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procuring a satisfactory tent, yet good pictures can almost 

 as readily be obtained. The only difference is that the camera 

 must be operated from a distance, which of course_, necessi- 

 tates going to it to change plates between exposures. Some- 

 times the shutter is operated by a long tube leading from 

 your place of concealment, but the better way is to use a 

 black linen thread. With the thread you can operate from 

 a greater distance if necessary and you can be certain that 

 an exposure is made when you pull it. To release the shut- 

 ter by this method I attach a rubber band to camera bed 

 and pass it over the release lever which is held in place by a 

 splinter of wood of correct length between it and the camera 

 bed. The thread is attached near one end of this bit of 

 wood so that a slight pull will bring it from under the lever 

 and the elastic band will complete the work. 



Obviously no rules can be given for the very many differ- 

 ent problems that are offered by different nests; they have 

 to be solved by the photographer and it is his ability or in- 

 ability to cope with adverse condition that will mark him as 

 a successful or an unsuccessful bird photographer. The 

 camera may have to be lashed up in trees; sunlight may 

 have to be reflected on the nest by a mirror; but whatever 

 you have to do, always bear in mind that the safety of the 

 3^oung birds is of much greater importance than the secur- 

 ing of a picture. Some photographers drape their tent with 

 leafy branches so as to make it less conspicuous; you can 

 suit your own fancy in regard to that, as the birds do not 

 care whether it is draped or not. If a tent is not used, the 

 camera should be covered with a black focussing cloth so as 

 to prevent fogging of the plate by chance leakage of light. 



