CHAPTER V. 



PHOTOGRAPHING BY THE STALKING METHOD. 



THE stalking of birds has a fascination all its 

 own. It is the realization of our natural impulse 

 to try to approach a quarry stealthily rather than 

 to lie hid awaiting its advance. It is, however, 

 comparatively seldom practicable, but when cir- 

 cumstances do permit of it, then probably the 

 keenest enjoyment of the bird-photographer is 

 experienced. 



The subjects amenable to stalking chiefly fall 

 into two distinct classes ; it is of no small practical 

 importance to know under which class a given 

 bird is to be considered. Such discrimination is 

 a part of the stock-in-trade of the true field- 

 naturalist. In the first group may be placed 

 those birds which, through their tameness, lack 

 of fear (two very different qualities) or down-right 

 stupidity, allow us to approach them closely. 

 For the most part these are " sea-birds," which 

 choose for their homes the lofty cliffs, or the less 

 bleak and inaccessible parts of the coast. 



In the second group may be included such birds 

 as allow of our approach, not because of their in- 



