PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS AND EGGS 69 



carried very slowly, will often allow the photographer 

 to approach to within fair distance of even the wilder 

 birds. At almost any of the villages situated on the 

 water many species of birds may be photographed, 

 thanks to the local law which prohibits the shooting 

 of birds within " city limits." How well the birds 

 understand this law is made apparent by their remark- 

 able tameness within these prescribed limits. They 

 realise thoroughly that the place is a sanctuary, and 

 that there, at least, men may be trusted, and the man 

 armed with the camera taking advantage of these 

 conditions can secure with ease photographs that would 

 otherwise be practically unobtainable. 



In regard to photographing the smaller species 

 of birds, so much depends on the conditions, which 

 are endless in their variety, that it is impossible to 

 cover the subject. Each individual bird is a study 

 by itself, so that no rules can be laid down that would 

 be of much use. 



In photographing adult birds in captivity, the 

 same devices may be used as recommended in Part 

 VI ; the same suggestions as to lighting and exposure 

 also apply. When a bird is placed in any sort of 

 cage adapted to photographing, do not be in too 

 great a hurry to make the exposure; usually the bird 

 will at first be very wild and excited, therefore it is 

 best to wait until the excitement has passed. Inter- 

 est the bird in some way, as by giving him something 



