68 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIRD-LOVERS. 



plan is for two to approach it ; one enters the hide 

 and remains there, the other, having a long over- 

 coat, departs, holding the coat out at arm's length, 

 thus giving the idea of a second person ! Inci- 

 dentally it may be said that before the friend's 

 departure everything should be put in readiness 

 for the first exposure, so that after he has gone 

 there may be no cause for movement or noise. 

 As he leaves the hide he should see to the surround- 

 ings of the lens, and nip off any leaves or twigs 

 which might possibly blow in front of it, and should 

 also look to the hiding-tent itself, making sure 

 that it is fairly evenly taut throughout, so that 

 there may be no slack parts to flap in the wind. 



Natural Hides. 



As will have already been gathered, the hide is 

 of the utmost importance. It must be impene- 

 trable to sight and as small and unobtrusive as 

 possible, and if, instead of being improvised on 

 the spot, it is a manufactured fitment carried for 

 the purpose, it should further be light, compact, 

 and easily erected. I most certainly do not 

 recommend that it should take a special and 

 imitative form of a tree, a domestic animal or any 

 other like object. Such may be useful on rare 

 occasions, but by no means essential in any case, 

 and as each of these imitations is confined in its 



