Photographing Birds and their Young 181 



of which is fastened about the barrel of the lens. 

 This device admits of being moved into any posi- 

 tion and lighting required, and may be useful in 

 some cases. I have never tried it, and therefore 

 cannot speak knowingly about it. It would seem 

 to me, however, that it 

 would be of but little 

 use with anything but 

 young birds that had 

 just learned to fly. 

 For photographing the 

 old birds in captivity I 

 would much rather 

 follow the plan of one 

 photographer who has 

 a studio devoted en- 

 tirely to this purpose, 

 in which he has dif- 



Young Wood Thrush. 



ferent perches in the 



shape of various tree trunks, branches, etc., and 

 where he can arrange any accessories he may 

 think necessary. In this place he liberates his 

 birds, allowing them the run of the whole room, 

 and does not attempt to do any work with them 

 until they are sufficiently tamed to allow of his 

 close approach. By this method he has done 

 some fine work from a merely anatomical stand- 

 point, but, as far as pictures are concerned, I can- 

 not think them a success. 



