Tent and Camera 59 



tree-trunk, having a skeleton of bamboo rods and a covering 

 of galvanized wire and green cloth, large enough to hold the 

 photographer standing erect with his camera. The outside 

 was painted in imitation of bark and decorated with moss 

 and leaves. This was used in cases of nests placed on or near 

 the ground in favorable situations. Mr. Kearton says it would 

 hardly do to set this up beside an exposed nest like a lark's "in 

 the middle of a bare ten-acre field," and to suit such a case they 

 constructed an artificial rubbish heap, from which photographs 

 were successfully made. 



Such devices are of course unnecessary when the nesting 

 site is brought under control, since in this case the birds must 

 become accustomed to a changed environment, and the addition 

 of the tent is a factor of no great importance. Then again, the 

 great heat of summer would prohibit their use in most parts of 

 this country. No decoration of the tent is commonly needed, 

 and its color is a matter of minor concern. Aside from the 

 question of comfort, however, the advantages of the tent lie 

 in its convenience and portability. It is a simple means of at- 

 taining what is chiefly sought, perfect concealment. The reason 

 it had not been adopted before possibly arose from the fact that 

 the readiness with which many birds become accustomed to 

 strange objects, or form new habits, had not hitherto been 

 appreciated. What wild animals chiefly fear are strange sounds 

 and strange objects in motion. All things at rest, whatever 

 their form or color, are soon disregarded by birds, of which 

 fact the reader will find abundant testimony in the course of 

 these pages. On the other hand, it is well to remember that 

 individual and specific differences are very great, and one should 

 not be surprised if some cases are found in which the tent or any 

 similar blind will not work with success. 



The Tent in Use. Some difficulty may be experienced in 

 pitching the tent in exactly the right position with reference to 

 the nest, without the necessity of further change. The factors 

 to be borne in mind are the height of the sun, the focal length 

 of the lens, and the position of the window to be made in the 

 tent-front directly opposite the nest. The front of the tent 



