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NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8:5— May, 1912 



duties regardless of my proximity. They evert allowed me to 

 saw out a piece of the tree so as to expose the young. All of 

 the youngsters grew up normally and are probably now raising 

 broods of their own. 



5. PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS BY REFLECTED LIGHT. 



Nests are frequently hidden away in some crevice, within a 

 building, or beneath a porch or the eaves of a shed so that, under 

 normal conditions, snapshots, which of course are necessary for 

 such rapidly moving creatures as birds, are impossible. Lack of 

 light can, in most cases, be overcome by means of a reflection from 

 a mirror ; in exceptional cases two or three mirrors may be neces- 

 sary. 



The nest of the Phoebe shown in Fig. 5 was photographed by 

 reflected light. It was built on a board beneath the eaves of a 

 building, and was not only situated in a dark place, but was in 

 such a position as to make it impossible to take a photograph by 

 placing the camera above it. A mirror was therefore fastened 

 above the nest at an angle, and light was cast upon it with an- 

 other mirror. By this means a photograph was obtained which 



Fig. 5. — Phoebe's Nest i'HOTO(;R.\piii:D I'.v Aid ok a Mikkhk 



