18 Pictures of Bird Life 



and can be used like a rifie by resting the elbows on the 

 knees. 



Another difficulty is the retiring nature of many birds, 

 which prefer leafy retreats and shady corners embowered in 

 foliage, where the quality of the light is not quick enough for 

 the short exposures which are needed for their acti\'e move- 

 ments and restless behaviour. 



For some subjects, such as a bird on its nest, an ordinary 

 lens may be used on a carefully hidden and preA'iously focussed 

 camera, the shutter of which may be manipulated from a 

 distance by means of a string, a long pneumatic tube, or even 

 by electric current. Here great exactitude in focussing is 

 required, and even with the most careful preparations many 

 exposures will be wasted. It is impossible without much 

 " stopping down " to get both sides of a nest in sharp focus 

 on the plate ; and unless the bird occupies the exact spot 

 allowed for it, it will be more or less out of focus. It is 

 generally safest to focus the nearest edge of the nest, as a 

 bird M'ill, as a ride, prefer to face any object of which she 

 has any suspicion. She will also prefer to sit head to wind. 

 Then, not only must the camera be most carefully concealed, 

 but the operator himself nuist also be completely out of 

 sight. Then, when, after many hours of waiting, the desired 

 exposure has been made, there is the necessity for him to 

 show himself in order to change the plate if another cliance 

 is wanted, and it is never safe to trust to one plate in this 

 work. This is not only a great drawback. Init causes much 

 loss of time. 



