20 Pictures of Bird Life 



iiuiv be done at close quarters without the usual precautions 

 as to hidino". 



The most portable disguise for g-eneral use among the 

 greenerx' of hedges, woods, and reeds is a large piece of 

 green fal)ric. By liaving it lined witli a yellowisli brown, 

 the reverse side would be useful on sand, sliingle. and open 

 moors. It may nearly always be supplemented with advantage 

 by cut pieces of bracken, leafy branches, reeds, or wliatcAcr 

 is suital)le and appropriate for the locality. 



In such a difficidt class of work the failures and disappoint- 

 ments are many and bitter, and success always very uncertain. 



I liaxe gone a])road for a week after a particular bird 

 and succeeded in exposing two plates at short range, only 

 to find on my return liome tliat tliey were both liopelessly 

 fogged. I ha\e ridden miles, and carrieil a hea\y camera, 

 only to find the nest deserted or pulled out ])y boys, or 

 waded nearly up to my neck in stagnant water for lialf 

 a day to no purpose. 



One day I cycled thirty -five miles, carrying a camera, 

 after a particular nest, aiul liad the pleasure of riding the 

 thirty-fixe miles liome again without ha\'ing impacked 

 the camera — se\enty miles for nothing, not havhig suc- 

 ceeded in finding tlie wished-for object — and Ivdve often 

 and often been out every day for a fortniglit and more 

 without liaving exposed a plate. And liere let me say that 

 carrying a whole-plate camera and spare lenses, and perhaps 

 another camera as Avell. with tele-plioto lens and all be- 

 longings, over hedge and ditch, plouglied field and marsh. 



