Photographing Reptiles, etc. 237 



plate, and with large snakes even this will be 

 found too small. On this stand, with a few simple 

 accessories, such as some pieces of sod, stones, 

 leaves, and small plants, any kind of an artificial 

 setting may be made. This should be arranged 

 to look as natural as possible, but any one can do 

 it by the exercise of a little care. A snake that 

 has been kept in the studio for two or three days, 

 until he has become accustomed to your presence 

 and his surroundings and to being handled, will 

 nearly always allow himself to be placed in the 

 desired position on the stand and will stay there 

 motionless for a sufficient length of time to allow 

 you not only to focus properly upon him, but 

 you can stop down the lens so as to get clear 

 definition of the entire field and give as long an 

 exposure as is then necessary. 



Of course, there is always the chance of the 

 snake deciding it is about time for him to make a 

 move when the exposure is about half over and 

 then you must try again, but these are the trials 

 that you must expect. 



Naturally, this kind of a studio is impracticable 

 when photographs of the snake striking or ready 

 for a strike are wanted. Then, of course, it is 

 necessary to have the strongest light possible, for 

 a snake's movements in coiling, striking, etc., are 

 very quick. One can easily move his posing 

 stand out into the direct sunlight, however, when 



