THE CAMERA 



297 



Nature Study With the Camera. 



BY EDWIN L. JACK, PORTLAND, MAINE. 



To me hunting with the camera is one 

 of the most interesting and fascinating 

 forms of nature study. There are no 

 laws to restrict me, and the fields, swamps 

 and woodlands are always teeming with a 

 wealth of bird, animal and insect life 

 that offers countless subjects for the ob- 

 servant camerist. 



To get a camera shot at a bird two feet 

 from the lens is, I am sure, a far great- 

 er test for one's skill than to get a gun 

 shot at a distance of fifty feet. 



Many are inclined to think that to ob- 

 tain good nature photographs necessi- 



YOUNG BLUEBIRDS ON DAY 



THE NEST. 



fcates a large and expensive outfit of high 

 grade cameras and rapid lenses. I have 

 proved that this is not always true, for al- 

 though I am at present using an anastig- 



YOUNG BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. 



mat lens many of my most prized studies 

 were obtained with an inexpensive 4x5 

 camera and a rectilinear lens. Almost 

 any camera that affords ground glass fo- 

 cussing and an average length of bellows' 

 entension may be put into service. 



If one cares to try bird photography 

 it is only necessary to add to the regular 

 outfit about fifty feet of such rubber tub- 

 ing as comes with the ordinary camera 

 bulb. This may be purchased at any 

 store that deals in rubber goods. It 

 of leaving comes in strips ten feet long. These 

 are to be joined by small ivory connection 

 tubes which may also be obtained from 

 the same dealer. Also provide yourself 

 w ith a bulb large enough to actuate the 

 shutter with the length of tubing used. 



YOUNG KINGFISHERS TWELVE DAYS OLD. 

 Note the wing and tail feathers just bursting from the sheaths. 



