Revieivs.



243



011 Saturday last (6th May). The egg unfortunately fell to the ground and

was broken. I think this will be the first instance of any species of

Paradise bird laying in this country. The egg was rather elongated, colour

buff with heavy streaks and blotches of brown.” Mr. Brook is to be con¬

gratulated on this event, and we hope that before long we may hear from

him of the successful breeding of this fine bird.—E d.



REVIEWS.



BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY.*


I11 this instructive little book Mr. Bentley Beetkam tells

11s in a clear and concise manner the best ways of portraying

wild birds by means of the camera. As is well known, Mr.

Beetham is a most successful bird-photographer, and his previous

book “Home Rife of the Spoonbill ” contains some of if not the

best photographs of wild birds we have ever seen. Such being

the case, the volume before us, though containing little that is

absolutely new to bird-photographers, will be welcomed by all

interested in this most fascinating pastime—we had almost

written sport, for such it undoubtedly is, as all those, who, like

the writer, have spent hours hidden within a few feet of some

of our shyest birds for the purpose of photographing them will

readily agree.


Mr. Beetham discusses at moderate length the necessary

apparatus and the different means of obtaining satisfactory pic¬

tures. Each subject is treated of in a separate chapter ; thus we

have one on “ Nest Photography”—Photographing young birds—

Photography by the stalking method and by the concealment

method, etc., etc. Under the treatment of the last named (p.

72) the author describes, though he does not recommend, the

“ umbrella hide.” In this we are not quite in agreement with

him, for the “ umbrella ” is easily and quickly put up, and can

be worked by the operator alone. The hide described by Mr.

Beetham seems rather clumsy and slow to put in position. The

quicker the operator can erect and enter his hide the better, in

our opinion. We also find from experience that a“hide,”pro-



Photography for Bird-Lnve>s , by Bkn i ley Bektham. Roy. 8vo., 122 pp.; 18 photographic

plates and text figures. I.ondou : Witherby & Co. 1911. Price 5/-net.



