Photographing Birds and their Young 171 



In this work, when possible, I like to get the 

 birds so accustomed to my presence, by constant 

 association with them, that they will attend to 

 their duties while I am close to the nest, for, 

 when near by, one can study them to better ad- 

 vantage and can also tell when they are in a posi- 

 tion best suited to a picture. 



Of course this is often out of the question, 

 although the Kearton brothers of England have 

 devised a blind in the shape of an artificial tree 

 trunk, which is large enough to conceal both the 

 camera and the operator. This is made of a 

 framework of bamboo, or other light material, 

 upon which is stretched cloth painted to resemble 

 a tree trunk and covered over with lichens, pieces 

 of moss, bark, etc., to make it look more natural. 

 This can be set up near the nest, with the camera 

 in position inside, and the operator take up his 

 stand in it also. A hole is made in the side 

 toward the nest through which to thrust the lens, 

 and another one to allow the operator to watch 

 his bird. Pictures of many of the more timid 

 birds, that it would be impossible to obtain 

 otherwise, may be made by means of this con- 

 trivance. 



I should not advise its use, however, except 

 when absolutely necessary, for it is exceedingly 

 cumbersome to carry and its most disagreeable 

 feature is the fact that it forms a miniature Turk- 



