PHOTOGRAPHY OF MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 35 



is both wild and vicious, under which category we may 

 include the stoat, weasel, and land rat, the following 

 arrangement has been found efficacious. A large 

 packing-case is supported at a convenient height from 

 the ground. It is lined sides, ends, and bottom with 

 neutral-tinted plaster of Paris. The corners are 

 rounded off with plaster of Paris, so that the interior, 

 looking downwards, is elliptical. The object of this 

 precaution is to prevent the awkward upright line of 

 junction between sides and ends appearing in the 

 photographs. Through each end of the box an 

 aperture is cut rather more than large enough to admit 

 the lens Each aperture is covered with a piece of 

 indiarubber having a slit in it, wide enough to pass 

 the lens through, and yet narrow enough to grip it 

 tightly round the mount. We have thus an arrange- 

 ment by which the lens can be pointed towards almost 

 any position of the interior of the box, without the risk 

 of tearing it from the camera by a sudden strain. The 

 box is filled to a convenient height with earth, plants, 

 and such like. Two heavy pieces 

 of glass resting on the top of the 

 box form the lid; a third piece of 

 glass of the exact width of the 

 box interior is kept close at hand. 

 The adjoining diagram 

 .shows the general arrangement. 

 B B B ends and bottom of box, P plaster of Paris 

 lining. I I holes covered with indiarubber, with slit 

 to admit lens. G G panes of glass covering top. 



