THE CAMERA. 



95 



ments a series of sudden jerks, as though 

 the fragments were really imbued with 

 life. The manifestation is at some 

 times more pronounced than at others, — 

 the rules governing this being yet un- 

 known to the writer. Usually the best 

 results are seen earl} - in the day. The 

 leaf fragments should be kept away 

 from the edge of the water to avoid 

 grounding ; they must not be so close 

 to each other as to touch, else the phe- 



nomenon might be attributed to vegeta- 

 ble magnetism. 



The gliding is abrupt, and so nearly 

 instantaneous that the observer who fails 

 to give the experiment his undivided at- 

 tention is likely to miss the motion. The 

 explanation is that there is an intermit- 

 tent expulsion of a volatile oil from the 

 broken cells. As this continues only for 

 a short time the semblance to animation 

 is as brief as surprising. 



Bessie L. Putnam. 



CAMERA RECORDS OF BIRDS' NESTS. 



[Also notes on the nesting habits of five of our ground 

 breeding birds.] 



BY P. G. HOWES, MAPLEWOOl), 

 FORD, CO NX. 



STA M - 



I wish to emphasize the important 

 part that the camera plays in the study 

 of birds or any other natural history 

 interests. The accompanying photo- 



*^> 



marked success, and I hiehlv recommend 

 them to any prospective purchaser. 



( )ur ground breeding birds are many, 

 and to attempt describing the nesting 

 habits of them all at one time would not 

 only take up too much room in our valu- 

 able Guide, but would be practically im- 

 possible, as the ornithologist can not 

 make an accurate study of more than 



ARCHED NEST OF THE MEADOW LARK. 

 (Sturnella magna) in short grass in meadow. 



graphs show the good results and the 

 high quality of the Eastman Kodak Com- 

 pany's cameras. With their cartridge 

 Kodak Xo. 4 and Premo No. 4, I have 



NESTING PLACE OF FIELD AND HENS- 

 LOW SPARROWS. 



In fields near by the spotted sandpiper may be 

 found at home. 



four or five at a time. So I have picked 

 out five birds which all nest on the 



