22 Pictures of Bird Life 



your face [and to wear dirty old dotr-skiii gloves that have 

 seen plenty of hard wear. Von can then move your hands 

 slowly and raise a field-glass to your eyes, when any move- 

 ment of tlie bare liands would be fatal. If anything suddenly 

 approaches close to you, half close the eyes and look through 

 the half-closed lids. If you must move — and after a time 

 it becomes impossible to remain motionless — do so slowly 

 and cautiously, watching for a suitable opportimity. 



Coughing, sneezing, and smoking nnist be strictly for- 

 bidden. I ha\'e myself giAen up smoking altogether, as being 

 the easiest wav out of tlie difficultv : otherwise, while waitinsf 

 about, there was always present the longing for a smoke, all 

 the stronger for being forbidden. 



Also, and most important of all, go alone, whenever 

 practicable. One man working on the lines suggested Mill 

 see four times as much as two. It is very often impossible 

 to do tliis. In strange localities, and especially abroad, it 

 will often be necessary to have a guide, or boatman, or 

 keeper : and on such occasions the advantage of being- 

 taken straight to the birds saves so nuich time wandering 

 about in a strange country as to outweigh any disadvantages. 



Away fi'om home, too, nuich more weight has to ])e 

 carried, so as to be prepared for anything that may turn 

 lip — spare plates, lenses, etc., generally more than it is 

 possible to carry single-handed. JLven then it is as well, 

 whenever after anything s]:)ecial, to leave your man at a 

 little distance, and go on alone. I try always to plan out 

 beforehand each dav's Mork : but one nuist alwavs be 



