HUNTING BIRDS WITH CAJMERA 



Wilson's Snipe when flushed from the nest, but with 

 quick, direct flight. 



This gave me a chance to examine and photograph 

 the eggs which lay in a simple hollow in the dead leaves. 

 Then I withdrew to a distance and hid behind a bush 

 to watch for her return. Just then it began to snow 

 hard, and soon the ground was white, though the 

 crystals melted on the warm eggs. Fearing that my 

 presence might be keeping her away, I went off and 

 explored a neighboring wooded hill, where I found a 

 hawk's nest. The Woodcock had not returned in one 

 hour, nor in two, but at the end of four hours she was 

 brooding again, as tame as ever. 



Of course at an early opportunity I had to bring Ned 

 to see the wonderful sight. After taking some more 

 pictures, w^e sat on a rock only six feet away to eat our 

 lunch, watching with keen interest the fearless and 

 motionless little mother. Never had we seen a bird 

 lie so splendidly to dog, man, camera, or anything else. 

 To our minds the title royal was fairly earned, and 

 Woodcock w^as certainly king. 



We had, however, one final and severe test for her — 

 to try to make her stand up to be photographed. After 

 getting the camera aimed and focused, and being all 

 ready, with one hand I presented to her the end of a 

 short stick. She did not move when it touched her, 

 nor even when I pried her up off the eggs and finally 

 pushed her over on to one side. She would not stand 

 up for me, but at last, crouching as low as possible, she 



18 



