64 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIRD-LOVERS. 



divergent ripples. How long this might have 

 continued one cannot say, for fresh arrivals were 

 constantly appearing, attracted from the neigh- 

 bouring fields by the commotion, but one clumsy 

 new-comer, swooping low over the surface of the 

 stream, struck the line with his wing, precipitating 

 himself into the water, and so startling the others 

 that the congregation immediately dispersed. 



Effect of Wind on Release Line. 



Wind is a great nuisance when working a long 

 length of line, and it is certainly desirable, even if 

 thereby the length has to be increased fifty per cent., 

 to work the line in the direction of the wind and not 

 across it that is, to be hidden directly to leeward or 

 windward of the camera. At any time the line 

 has a mischievous habit of becoming entangled 

 with any and every possible obstacle. This danger, 

 however, may be reduced to a minimum by working 

 it in the direction indicated, taking care to keep it 

 always taut, and putting as much strain upon it as 

 is possible without running the risk of accidentally 

 working the shutter. This keeping of the line 

 taut serves another purpose, as when it is deliber- 

 ately pulled to make an exposure it moves com- 

 paratively little, and does not frighten the bird 

 anything like so much as when it is tightened 

 suddenly from a slack position. But if the line 



