ON LONELY BIRD KEY 97 



hooked-billed, long- winged pirates. Though at times un- 

 friendly, the similarity of their dark plumages — perhaps 

 — gives them now a sense of having some things, after all, 

 in common, and they sit together as though ever the best 

 of friends. The big fellows are not over-tame, so from the 



NODDIES. "THE MALE STANDS BESIDE HIS MATE AS SHE BROODS" 



nearest bushes, fifteen yards away, we use the telephoto lens. 

 Then, upon my knees, head covered with the focus-cloth, 

 looking intently into the hood of the reflex camera and 

 watching the image of the birds on the ground glass, keeping 

 good focus upon them as I advance, I creep nearer and nearer. 

 The movement is so gradual, and the object so nondescript, 

 that they are not alarmed. At length I am very near, and 



