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above ground. Consider that we have found the nest of a 

 Chestnut-sided Warbler in a favorable position and that 

 the young are about a week old. We arrive with our out- 

 fit at a time of day when the light is most favorable. The 

 tent is quickly placed in position so that its nearest side is 

 but three feet from the nest; in this side we have a series of 

 flaps the proper one of which is pinned back so that the 

 camera can be focussed on the subject. We study the image 

 on the ground glass, tying back foliage that causes blurs 

 in the foreground. A single branch shades the nest from 

 the sun; a black thread is tied to this, carried around a 

 branch on a neighboring bush and then to the tent. A gen- 

 tle pull on this thread elevates the shade-branch so as to 

 leave the entire nest strongly illuminated whenever we 

 desire. 



Five minutes from the time we arrived, we have every- 

 thing in readiness and are standing or sitting within our 

 shelter. If everything goes well, within ten minutes we will 

 probably see the warblers coming and going, feeding their 

 little ones just as though we were not there. We usually 

 allow them to make two or three visits before making ex- 

 posures as the click of the shutter often startles them the 

 first time they hear it. With care, plate after plate may be 

 exposed without alarming the adult birds in the least. Just 

 imagine it ! Free wild birds performing their household 

 duties within arm's reach of you and apparently not aware 

 of your presence. That sounds easy, doesn't it ? It is easy, 

 too, if everything turns out as we want it to. Unfortu- 

 nately, however, birds have a way of upsetting our plans, 

 so that try as we "will, we may fail to get even a single 

 picture. 



The tent allows of accurate observations of events at 

 the nest and also of perfect control of the camera. Often, 

 however, the use of a tent may not be feasible ; the nest may 

 be too high or circumstances may prevent your having or 



