THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF PETS, ETC. 103 



ing to edge into a corner. No sooner was his intention 

 detected than the herd, which previously had formed 

 a scattered but homogeneous and friendly mass, 

 broke up into a variety of small cliques. Each 

 sow collected her progeny around her, and started 

 independently for the most interesting spot she 

 remembered in the neighbourhood of the other three 

 corners. It was a photographic opportunity which 

 was immediately taken advantage of. 



The consideration of poultry will exhaust our 

 survey of the farmyard. Of ducks, fowls, and geese, 

 considered as poultry types, the latter undoubtedly 

 form the best photographic exercise. All are easy 

 subjects, requiring nothing beyond a fairly quick 

 exposure and the ability on the part of the photo- 

 grapher to loose the shutter at the right moment. 

 Geese, however, if only for the reason that they have 

 been accepted at the Salon, deserve more than a 

 passing notice. They are the most grotesquely self- 

 conscious of all created things. Once again it will 

 prove more profitable to take the flock than the 

 individual. The gander will always be well to the 

 front, and, in this point alone, will be easily distinguish- 

 able from those who take him as their model, but the 

 pretentious dignity of each individual will form such a 

 combination as will be almost the equivalent of a 

 sermon to humanity. The white plumage of geese and 

 ducks is, when clean, of a brilliant character ; con- 

 sequently in snapshot work the contrasts tend to 

 be much too harsh, and the negatives may be 

 advantageously treated with ammonium persulphate. 



