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ON "WAIT AM) SEE" lMI(n'()(iKAPII V. 

 PAwr J. 



BY 



E. L. TURNER, H.Af.H.O.U. 



This method consists in putting up a tent (or perhaps 

 several) near any feedmg-ground frequented by birds, and 

 sitting inside it all day M'ith a reflex camera. It is far 

 more exciting than it sounds, for the simple reason that 

 you never know what may turn u]). The charm of this 

 sport lies in its very waywardness. Some of us are tired 

 of photographmg the eternal bird on its eternal nest. The 

 game lacks variety for the natiu"alist, A\'ho is keen to learn 

 something of those habits and instmcts Avhich culminate 

 in the buildmg of the nest, and in the rearing and dispersal 

 of the young. There are so few bird photographers who 

 care for anythmg more than the acquisition of a pretty 

 picture or a technically perfect print. This rebel utter- 

 ance perhaps needs qualifying. Ones work should, of 

 course, be as perfect as circumstances alloM-, but to the 

 photographer who loves the bird better than the photo- 

 graph, a teclmically imperfect pruit, if it expresses an 

 emotion or a momentary action, is of mfinitely more 

 value than the self-consciously beautiful pictures one 

 can obtain of nesting birds. 



By the " wait and see "' method one sees so much of tlie 

 inner life of birds when they are absolutely unconscious of 

 observation. By means of properly adjusted pee])-holes 

 a large area can be watched, therefore no moment of the 

 long hours lacks interest, even if no satisfactory photo- 

 graphs are obtained. Sometimes the most enthusiastic 

 photograplier is apt to be bored if forced to face one 

 ])roperly conducted pair of birds all day, Avhen they 

 have settled douii to business and forgotten the mad 

 riot, and the joy of living, and the lust of fighting, 

 which possessed thorn in tiie (>arly spring. 



