82 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIRD-LOVERS, 

 departed, leaving us anxiously awaiting the bird's 

 return. Probably our first intimation of its coming 

 will be its appearance at some distance, whence 

 it eyes the hide distrustfully, and approaches 

 gradually stage by stage as it gains confidence, or 

 it may alight on the nest-edge and fold its wings 

 hesitatingly, as if uncertain whether to stop or 

 go. In any case there is great temptation to seize 

 the much longed-for opportunity and to snap the 

 bird the moment it appears, but this is a short- 

 sighted policy, and though of course, we thereby 

 make certain of one exposure, it too often happens 

 that the slight click of the shutter scares the bird, 

 for she has only just mustered up courage sufficient 

 to return when all is quiet, and is, therefore, 

 intently on the alert, and still full of misgivings, 

 and at the first sound darts off reassured of the 

 presence of a lurking foe within the lump. It is 

 better to give the bird ample time to settle down 

 and if, through long acquaintance with the 

 tent, she has really and completely ceased to 

 fear everything therewith connected, it is truly 

 astonishing, in fact almost incredible, what 

 she will tolerate without exhibiting a sign 

 of agitation or alarm. The recounting of such 

 incidents savours of a piscatory narrative, 

 but may, nevertheless, be the plain ungarnished 

 truth. 



