44 SOME BIRDS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS 



into the ground, leading in the direction of the place 

 where the would-be photographer intends to conceal 

 himself. The next duty is to walk to this place of 

 concealment with a fishing reel containing anything up 

 to two hundred yards of line, leave the reel at this spot, 

 undo the check, and the line will run out easily without 

 entangling. This line must be passed through the five 

 or six skewers, one of which should be close up to the 

 camera, and then attached to the piece of cotton already 

 mentioned ; the object of the cotton being to avoid any 

 jar or movement of the camera when the line is pulled. 

 This piece of cotton is an important feature in taking 

 photographs of this kind, because it enables the operator 

 to pull as hard as he likes at the exact moment he 

 wishes to take the photograph ; the cotton being suffi- 

 ciently strong to release the spring of the shutter then 

 breaks off, thus avoiding any jar to the camera. 



While I was photographing the eggs as they lay 

 on the ground, Don Ramon's brother, who sometimes 

 accompanied us on our expeditions, touched me on the 

 arm and pointed out the summit of a neighbouring hill 

 some half-mile away as a likely spot on which to place 

 the camera with a view of taking the bird, assuring me 

 that I should never be able to photograph it at a less 

 distance. He altered his opinion somewhat on seeing 

 the camera disguised on the ground, but still, as he 

 retired with his companions to their own hiding place 

 a little distance away, I could see him shaking his head 

 and looking very wise, evidently feeling that I was 

 putting a slight on the intelligence of the Engana. 



I think the bird came rather more quickly this time, 

 pursuing the same tactics, and standing about, as before. 



