CHAPTER XL 



PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS IN CAPTIVITY. 



THIS last branch of the art is worthy of more 

 and better recognition than it at present receives. 

 It really embraces much useful and valuable work, 

 and can be as productive of beautiful results in its 

 own sphere as can any other branch of the work ; 

 but it has fallen into disrepute through its practice 

 by a few unscrupulous photographers, who have 

 tried, with some success, to pass off as studies of 

 wild-life, pictures of specimens in captivity. Apart 

 from all question of principle or sportsmanlike 

 feeling, such misrepresentation is most deplor- 

 able, since it causes work done on birds in 

 confinement to be regarded unfavourably, and that 

 done on wild free birds to be received with feelings 

 of doubt and suspicion. It has, in fact, introduced 

 a jarring element into a hobby where none ought to 

 have existed. It is the outcome of Business trying 

 to foster and make profitable Nature Study, and 

 this combination cannot long continue beneficial 

 to both interests their methods are too dissimilar. 

 A short cut to an object already fully in view 



