178 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



act as a lure, but to-day were unsuccessful in finding one, 

 though the preceding day the whole place had seemed to 

 swarm with them. We did not care to take a nestling which 

 would have been unable to fend for itself if turned loose. 

 After lunch I returned to the tent and waited patiently till 

 3.30, when the light was hopeless, and then gave the thing 

 up as a bad job. I was really bitterly disappointed, because 

 a few more degrees of swing would have done the trick ; but 

 the exigencies of bird photography don't allow freedom of 

 movement, and I think it is probable that it would be 

 exceedingly difficult to arrange an apparatus which would 

 give an effective horizontal swing of more than 90, though 

 it is possible it could be done with one of the cameras with a 

 fixed front, which only rack backwards, such as the " Arctos." 

 On the whole, I believe that type to be the most suitable for a 

 bird photographer for stand work, though it throws the weight 

 well forward, and therefore requires an exceptionally good 

 tripod, such as a heavy " Ashford." 



It might be explained that E.H.C. considered W.P.C.'s 

 greater photographic experience would more than compensate 

 for his inability to hear well. On the result attained W.P.C. 

 thinks otherwise. 



Falco aesalon (The Merlin). 



6th June. One seen on the edge of Poole Harbour, working 

 the gorse bushes for linnets ( Acanthis cannabina) and after- 

 wards its favourite roosting place was found. (E.H.C. ). 



Falco tinnunculus (The Kestrel). 



30th May. Having ascertained that a pair we had been 

 acquainted with for many years were feeding young in a 

 sand cliff, within the prohibited area, we repaired to the duly 

 appointed authority and were able to get a permit after 

 satisfying the powers of our bona fides, loyalty, and discretion. 



The first job, and a very difficult one, was to excavate and 

 build a sufficient platform for the hiding tent, which we were 

 successful in doing after a fashion a matter of 30 feet up the 

 cliff, but a rather long way below the nest ; there was no help 

 for that, as the nest was under an overhanging portion of ths 



