WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH BIRDS 



down, hung my chin over the edge and fixed my eyes on the tun- 

 nel. Fifty times the youngsters came close enough so that I could 

 catch the gleam of their bills, but seeing the camera they craw- 

 fished. Fifty times it seemed I should have to give up because I 

 was not equal to it. Like a mustard plaster that sun poured down 

 on my shoulders and arms. I felt as if I were being blistered, and 

 I was. Each upper arm and the top of my shoulders above my 

 heavier clothing was burned into patches of water blisters as 

 large as my hand. I can't tell how those wasp-stings throbbed 

 and ached. 



It was two and a half hours by my watch, and I was almost 

 insensible, when a faint whistle from Raymond recalled me. I 

 looked down and snapped on the instant, and here is what I got. 

 This in connection with the two fishing pictures of the grown birds 

 are the only real, natural Kingfisher pictures I have ever seen. I 

 could scarcely pack my camera and get my stuff to the cabin. I 

 was red as red flannel, long ago perspiration had dried up, and my 

 flesh burned as with fire. I got into the bath-tub, turned on hot 

 water and took a Turkish bath until perspiration started again 

 and I sweated the heat out of me. Then I dressed my blisters 

 and went to bed for the rest of that day. But never again have 

 I been able to bear that degree of heat for that length of time. 



Whatever it cost, it was worth while. The picture is one of 

 my finest, and I got some mental impressions on that day, of the 

 swamp in the quarry and across the road, and of the line of the 

 river, which I now could reproduce to the least detail. I could 

 catch every breath of movement among the willows and poplars. 

 There were water rats riffling the pool, and snakes weaving 

 among the grasses. All birds of spring were busy everywhere. 

 The Red-winged Blackbirds, there were myriads of them, seemed 

 especially to delight in swaying on the rushes and splashing in 

 the water. It appeared to me, up on that embankment, in the 



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