88 NATURE AND THE CAMERA 



hours in unsuccessful attempts to secure pictures of 

 these exclusive creatures. Either they will keep 

 their shell tightly shut, or else they will be too active 

 and keep on the go with such vigour that a good 

 picture is almost impossible. 



In order to illustrate some of nature's wonderful 

 methods of protection by means of colouring, mark- 

 ing, and form, we can find few better or more striking 

 examples than some of even the common varieties 

 of insects. There are some which closely imitate 

 flowers, leaves, twigs, bark, or grass, while others, 

 such as some of the grasshoppers which live in dusty 

 or sandy places, are without conspicuous markings, 

 and of -a colour that corresponds almost exactly with 

 their surroundings. In a drawing, however well exe- 

 cuted, we always have a feeling of doubt as to its ac- 

 curacy, and this doubt increases in proportion to the 

 closeness of resemblance between the insect and its 

 surroundings. It is therefore to the camera that we 

 must look for a truthful and convincing picture of 

 these extraordinary examples of nature's handiwork. 



