Vol. XV. 

 .9.6 



J Camera Craft Notes. 257 



holes have remained dry for many months. We make it a 

 practice always to keep water available for the wild birds, and 

 so many species visit the garden and j)addock. A small tank, 

 always full of water, is very popular with the birds, and offered 

 facihties for i)hotoofraiihs. A box fixed to a rail close to the tank, 

 with a hole cut in the side facing the tank, for the lens, held the 

 camera. A small T hinge, with tlie arm swinging free, was fixed 

 to the rail, the bulb of the shutter placed in its grip, and a long 

 cord attached. Then one had just to watch and wait patiently 

 until the birds were in the desired position ; a sharj) jerk released 

 the shutter, and the picture was secured. 



The following birds have made it a practice to come to my 

 tank for drinking and bathing purposes, and photographs of some 

 have been obtained : — Helmeted Friar-Bini {Tropidorhynchus 

 buceroides), Friar-Bird {T. cormculatus). Little Friar-Bird {Philemon 

 sordidus), Yellow Honey-eater {Ptilotis flava). Yellow-spotted 

 Honey-eater (P. notata). Dusky Honey-eater {Myzomela obscura). 

 Brown Honey-eater {Stiginatops ocularis). White-throated Honey- 

 eater {Melithreptus albogiilayis), *Striped Honey-eater {Ptilotis 

 lanccolata), Blue-faced Honey-eater {Entomyza cyanotis). Black- 

 headed Pardalote {Pardalotus melanocephalns), Sun-Bird 

 {Cyrtostomiis frenatiis), *Batcher-Bird {Cracticus destructor). Black- 

 throated Butcher-Bird (C. nigrigularis). Crow {Corvus coronoides). 

 Spangled Drongo {Chibia hracteata). Lesser Red-browed Finch 

 {Mgintha minor). Chestnut-breasted Finch {Munia castaneothorax), 

 *Chestnut-eared Finch {Tteniopygia castanotis), Magpie-Lark 

 {Grallina picata). Red-backed Wren-Warbler {Malnriis criientatns), 

 }31ack-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus melanops). Leaden Flycatcher 

 {Myiagra plumbea), Black-and-White Fantail {Rhipidura 

 motacilloides). Pheasant Coucal {Centropns phasianus). Lesser 

 Brown Kingfisher {Dacelo minor). Leach Kingfisher {D. leachi). 

 Forest Kingfisher {Halcyon macleayi). Barred-shouldered Dove 

 {Geopelia humeralis), Tranquil Dove {G. tranquilla). Little Green 

 Pigeon {Chalcophaps chrysochlora). — E. M. Cornwall. Mackay 

 (Qld.), 18/1/16. 



Wood-Swallows. — In my experience, Wood-Swallows are 

 difficult to photograph. Their nests are built at no great height — 

 from two or three feet to about 15 feet from the ground being 

 the general range, though I have found several in fairly lofty 

 positions. As a rule, then, one has no more trouble in focussing 

 on a Wood-Swallow's nest than on a simple landscape. Photo- 

 graphs of young birds are easily obtained, but the adults try 

 one's patience. They skim over and around the nest, make 

 vicious dives at the photographer, and then retire to a favourite 

 j)erch for a few minutes' rest. This procedure may be repeated 

 at short intervals for several hours, when, if Fortune smiles, a 



* Drought visitors. 



