BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



advantage in the amount of slaughter entailed. A limited 

 display of mounted specimens in a public museum we con- 

 sider justifiable, by reason of a certain educational value, 

 but shapeless skins and empty egg shells are suitable only 

 for the cabinets of those interested in the problem of 

 nomenclature. 



However, the primary object of this book is to demon- 

 strate the advantages of studying bird-life by means of 

 the camera, and not to discuss the disadvantages of other 

 methods. Notwithstanding many opinions to the contrary, 

 photography of birds, so far as its cost is concerned, is 

 within the reach of almost everyone. There are few people 

 indeed who cannot lay aside thirty shillings or so for the 

 purchase of a camera. That done, there is no more expense 

 connected with the photography of birds than with the 

 photography of anything else. Probably, indeed, there is 

 less, as the birds themselves can be relied upon to arrange 

 the number of plates which are to be exposed in a day. 

 Usually they are few. At the age of sixteen or so we 

 were not millionaires by any means, and we managed to 

 secure pictures without serious financial stress. Even now, 

 we would not be indulging our tastes for bird photography 

 if it were expensive. 



Much of the interest of this branch of photography, of 

 course, depends upon the tendencies of the individual. A 

 person who finds no interest in Nature Study cannot expect 

 to find any great interest in Nature photography. We are 

 quite sure, however, that this method of observation would 

 be much more popular than it is amongst Nature-lovers 

 were its interest more fully realised. We have at one time 

 or another tried most forms of sport, and can say truthfully 

 that we know of no more exciting pastime. Fishing and 

 shooting we have sometimes found exciting, but the 

 remembrance of such occasions has soon faded. The 

 sense of excitement felt when a bird, perhaps a rare one, 

 approaches the correct position for photography, is intense, 

 and the memory of it, furthermore, is perpetuated if the 

 exposures made result in good pictures. A great deal of the 

 attraction of the hobby lies in the skill required both in the 

 field and in the dark room to produce convincing results. 

 For this reason successful photographs are far from 

 common — a fact which adds considerably to the satisfaction 

 felt when one is obtained. 



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