The Camera as an Aid in the Study of Birds 7 



reaching as to bring home as tropliies Hfeless bodies and despoiled 

 liabitations, to be stowed away in cabinets where dust and insects 

 and faihng interest soon put an end to their usefuhiess. It is not 

 intended, of course, to reflect in any way upon the estabHshment of 

 order!}' and well-directed collections, for such are absolutely neces- 

 sary to the very existence of the science of ornithology. To such 

 collections the great bod\' of amateur bird students should turn 



CHICKADEE AT XEST-HOLE, WITH FOOD FOR YOUNG 



for the close examinations necessary to familiarize themselves with 

 the principles of classification and the distinctions between closely 

 related species. Indeed, it is impossible for anyone to be intelli- 

 genth' informed as to the many varieties of birds, and their wonder- 

 ful seasonal changes of plumage, without having: actually handled 

 specimens. 



The growth of avian photography has been of short duration, — 

 only a few years in this country and not much longer in England, 

 where it seems to have had its inception. But there are already 

 one or two good books dealing with the subject ; and a goodly num- 

 ber of ornithological works of recent date, and especially the pages 

 of the journal literature of the day, bear excellent testimony to the 



