34 NATURE AND THE CAMERA 



tains only eggs. It is, however, not safe to try it 

 unless there is some special reason why the eggs 

 should be photographed. 



With birds that will build in bird-boxes one may 

 obtain photographs of the eggs without much risk. 

 The way to do it is to make the box with a hinged 

 lid which can be opened when the photograph is to 

 be made. The box itself might also be made detach- 

 able from its support. 



Nests like the kingfishers', that are placed in banks, 

 cannot be photographed except by cutting away the 

 bank, when of course the nest is destroyed. So it is 

 better to leave such nests alone. 



Before leaving this branch of photography it would 

 be well to draw attention once more to the fact that 

 most birds will desert their nests upon very slight 

 provocation, especially if the nest is handled. So on 

 no account disarrange either the nest or the sur- 

 roundings more than is absolutely necessary. 



Do not make this work an excuse for destroying 

 bird life. Let it, instead, take the place of egg-collect- 

 ing, when, if properly and conscientiously done, both 

 the birds and ourselves will reap the benefit. 



