STALKING. 57 



and its one burning fear has been that we should 

 come in its direction and discover it, and a long 

 and steady stalk ever bringing us nearer and nearer 

 could but have intensified this dread. A sympathy 

 with, and an understanding of, the creature's stand- 

 point helps us much. Her life has given her an in- 

 stinctive dread of being stalked and pounced upon ; 

 she hates the thought of anything stealing upon 

 her from behind. Therefore, to avoid approach- 

 ing from the rear is our first precept, and it may not 

 be without effect if we try to strengthen her faith in 

 the completeness of her concealment bypassing aim- 

 lessly near her a few times, halting here and there 

 just as she has seen beasts and shepherds do many 

 times before. Then on one such tack stop right in 

 front of her as close as may be. Again avoid sudden, 

 jerky movement, but secure a focus with all speed, 

 for her faith in her invisibility is suffering a severe 

 trial. Such subjects will demand a very full expo- 

 sure for if not actually in part concealed by foliage, 

 they are at least deep-seated in the grass or other 

 herbage and much in shadow. For this reason 

 we prefer to use a stand-camera, but it is a debat- 

 able point which instrument is best, and a prefer- 

 ence for the stand-camera is probably more a 

 matter of use than of distinct advantage in this 

 case, for the spreading of the legs is a cause of much 

 alarm to the sitting bird. 



