PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS AND EGGS 67 



used with the greatest possible advantage. Ducks of 

 many species can be photographed if a blind of grass 

 and bushes is made in a convenient situation. It is 

 best to select a place that is frequented by the birds 

 either for the purpose of feeding or resting. In cer- 

 tain pools, or bends in a river, the birds will be seen 

 nearly every day at certain hours. In such places pho- 

 tographs may be secured with scarcely any difficulty. 

 Of all the places I have seen, Florida is the country 

 par excellence for the photographer of water-fowl. 

 The numerous rivers, the secluded cypress ponds, 

 the open marshes, or the sea-coast, all offer facilities 

 for the work that are perhaps unexcelled in any other 

 State. The birds are very plentiful and remarkably 

 tame, except in places where fiends in the guise of 

 men spend their time on the bows of the river 

 steamers, armed to the teeth with shot-gun and rifle, 

 firing at every form of living creature (except men 

 and cattle) that comes within the range of gun or rifle. 

 Their prey may be killed or wounded, it makes no 

 difference ; it is left where it falls, and no one is any 

 better for the murderous deed. In this way some of 

 the very best locations, such as the Kissimmee River, 

 are being completely denuded of their bird popula- 

 tion, or else the comparatively few birds that remain 

 have become so afraid of man that a near approach 

 is almost impossible. If this crying evil were sup- 

 pressed, this river and many other such places would 



