Introduction xix 



Animals, that the interpreter of the animal mind should unite 

 to a thorough training in physiology, psychology, and biology 

 the experience of a director of a zoological garden, and the lore 

 of a forester, besides being a student of aesthetics. Such versa- 

 tility is practically unattainable, but even if he magnifies his 

 office, it is not surprising that much has been written to So little 

 purpose on a difficult subject. 



Ill 



A number of years ago I became interested in the photog- 

 raphy of wild animals as a means of securing better pictures 

 for book-illustration, but it was not until the summer of 1899 

 that time was found for experiments in the field. Taking up 

 the specific problem of how to photograph the free wild bird, 

 it was at once apparent that the nest or home was the focal point 

 of interest to both bird and observer, since during the period of 

 nesting or home life the range of the adults is limited as at no 

 other time, and to a comparatively small area. For a month 

 or more they are chained to a given spot. It was also evident 

 that for the study of any nest, situated near the ground and 

 within reach of the camera, a convenient and perfect means of 

 concealment was necessary. A glimpse now and then, or a 

 "lucky shot " obtained by means of attaching a long rubber tube 

 with pneumatic bulb to the shutter of the camera, which must 

 be worked at a distance, is not of much value. What was 

 needed was a means of watching at the closest range the whole 

 life of birds at the nest. 



For concealment I first decided to try a house made of light 

 boards and painted green, but soon discarded this impracticable 

 idea and made a tent of green cloth instead. This was used at 

 a nest of Redwing Blackbirds, situated a few feet above the 

 water of a swamp, and was a success from the first. However, 

 the task was only half completed with the introduction of a 

 convenient blind, since most nests of wild birds are inaccessible 

 from the ground. 



The next experiment was made with Chipping Sparrows, 



