Voi.xviii.j Camera Craft Notes. 307 



to be found. They are bold, active birds, and seldom let their 



prey escape them. They can catch the swift-flying Carrier Pigeon. 



The habits of these birds in AustraHa are identical with those of 



America and elsewhere. 



* * * 



Spider and Chicken. — In the accompanying photograph note 

 the dead chicken and the spider. The latter has a spread (not 

 extended) of five inches. These spiders no doubt destroy much 

 bird-hfe. The chicken (one of a brood) disappeared. The tracks 

 showed something had been dragged. Following up, we found 

 the chicken 50 feet away. When one of my people took hold of 

 it, there was tugging resistance. Investigation revealed the 

 spider with one of the chicken's legs down a hole. The spider 

 tugged and endeavoured to pull the chicken down its hole, which 

 was about ij inches in diameter. To give an idea of the pro- 

 portions of each, I had them photographed on my hat, with a 

 12-inch rule beside. Possibly Finches, Larks, and Pardalotes are 

 part of the spider's prey. — -J. R. Chisholm. The Plains, Prairie 

 Table-land, North Queensland. 



Posing the Sitter. — Photographers of birds have so many 

 difficulties to contend with that any hint, however simple, which 

 tends to overcome them may be acceptable. While photo- 

 graphing adult birds, those sitting on a nest especially, we have 

 often experienced considerable trouble in inducing the subject to 

 take up a suitable position. There appears quite a usual desire 

 on the part of most birds to face the camera directly, in which 

 case the picture will give a very unnatural appearance to the head 

 and bill. A ruse "we have seldom found to fail is for one of the 

 party — if there be more than one — to draw the bird's attention 

 from the camera by moving slowly round the nest, or by the 

 operator, if he be alone, carrying out the same purpose by means 

 of a white handkerchief on the end of a long stick. The bird will 

 almost certainly follow the moving object with its eye, and it soon 

 becomes necessary that the subject itself should move in order 

 that this may be done. Especially is this method effective when 

 it is desired that the position of the head only be altered. The 

 picture reproduced illustrates this point. The Brown Flycatcher 

 photographed persisted in facing the camera, and once it had 

 settled down comfortably nothing would move it. iVfter wards, 

 however, by moving around as described, before the subject had 

 time to settle down on the eggs, we were able to obtain pictures 

 in the position shown. — S. A. Lawrence and R. T. Littlejohxs. 



Melbourne, 30/1/19. 



, * * * 



The Moult of Penguins. — It is interesting to notice how quickly 

 Penguins are able to shed their feathers, but we have to remember 

 that during that time they do not enter the water, and therefore 

 have to do without food ; hence the necessity of a quick moult. 



