APPARATUS. 19 



given shoulders it will fit more neatly and securely 

 to the camera, and such a one is less disturbed by 

 wind. 



The Release. 



The shutter release, whatever its principle, is a 

 most important item. When bird- work first began 

 there was already in common use the pneumatic 

 ball and teat, and although since then some twenty 

 years have passed, nothing has been devised to 

 equal it in general usefulness. In fact, this 

 appliance is the ideal one for our purpose. There 

 are no moving parts, not the slightest sound or 

 creak in its working ; it acts as well round corners 

 and in and out of branches as in a straight line; 

 rapid in response and without a sign of life in 

 operation, it seems remarkable that a thing so 

 suitable should have been found ready to hand. 

 For all short distances up to fifteen or twenty 

 feet its working is perfection, for twenty to sixty 

 feet, and even beyond, it answers admirably 

 though somewhat more slowly, but for greater 

 lengths, though still of some service, we prefer to 

 supplement it either entirely or in part by a thin 

 line. 



The line method of release, though possessing 

 none of the finer qualities of the pneumatic, is 

 nevertheless of much service. To employ it there 

 is no need to remove the ball and teat that are 



2A 



