21 



frightened her off she soon returned and stood eyeing the camera 

 suspiciously. The shutter this time did not disturb her, and I was 

 able to reverse the slide and get a final picture of her comfortably 

 settled. My next exposures were on another ringed plover, and 

 were in the nature of an experiment. The camera was erected and 

 left quite uncovered fifteen feet from the eggs, while I was another 

 twenty feet away, hidden in some faggots ; the exposure being made 

 with a length of tubing. 



The drawback to this arrangement was, that at each exposure it 

 was necessary to leave the hide to change the plate, and call up my 

 assistant, when the birds could see him leave. I had not long to 

 wait before the female approached to within easy distance of the 

 eggs, by a succession of zig-zag runs, and then stood answering the 

 male, who was keeping watch from a small mound that commanded 

 a good view of the surrounding country. As soon as the coast was 

 clear the male gave a low whistle, and the female at once moved in 

 the direction of the eggs. I subsequently obtained a photograph of 

 the bird on the eggs keeping a watchful eye on the camera, and 

 another in which she appeared to be deep in thought. 



This was the last photograph I took on the trip ; but I hope this 

 year to renew the acquaintance of some of my old bird friends, and 

 to. discover some new ones ; and profiting by past experience and 

 some changes in my outfit, to be able to show you later on some 

 better photographs than those I have placed before you to-night. 



