STALKING. 53 



difference, courage or imbecility, but because 

 their instinct tells them particularly during the 

 breeding-season to " lie low " in hiding, in the 

 hope that they will be passed by unnoticed. These, 

 unlike the former, are most certainly alarmed at 

 our presence, but rely for safety on concealment 

 rather than on flight. 



Of the former group the auks might stand as 

 examples, while for the latter the game-birds take 

 their place ; and it may be of some service if we 

 now follow in imagination, first the stalking of a 

 Puffin and then that of a Grouse. 



Stalking a Puffin. 



Where auks occur it is generally in large numbers, 

 and if we are stalking Puffins, for example, it is 

 more than likely that we shall come across four 

 or five of them sitting together on some boulders. 

 The moment they have been marked down as our 

 goal, slow (would we could add and " sure ") 

 must be our motto. Nothing so readily alarms 

 a bird as a sudden jerky movement. Long before 

 the final stalk begins, in fact as soon as we come 

 into view of the quarry, any quick, abrupt action 

 should be avoided. The reflex camera is now 

 put in readiness, the shutter set and the dark-slide 

 inserted, so that when at close- quarters with the 

 bird there will be no cause for delay or sudden 



