48 THE DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



the form and colour and character of each animal, 

 bird, or insect, and who know something of the 

 life each has to lead, and the conditions in which it 

 is placed. More sportsmen than naturalists, and 

 more naturalists than artists, observe these and other 

 animals in their natural surroundings. But, nowa- 

 days, at least photographers and cinematographers 

 are going into the wilds to portray them. And 

 perhaps naturalist-artists will arise who, every bit as 

 keen as sportsmen now are to get to close quarters 

 with game animals, will want to get into positions 

 from which they will be able carefully to observe 

 animals of all kinds and take note of every character- 

 istic. These artists will have to be fully as alert as 

 the sportsmen, and be able on the instant, and from 

 a fleeting glimpse, to note the lines and shades and 

 character of the animal. But, if they do this, they 

 will, in all probability, bring back more lasting and 

 deeper impressions of the animals than the sports- 

 man with all his keen observation ever receives — 

 and they will enjoy a greater pleasure. An artist, 

 who from observing an animal in its own haunts, 

 and from the sketches and notes he made there, 

 could paint a picture of it in its own surroundings, 

 would assuredly derive more pleasure from his enter- 

 prise than the sportsman who simply brought back 

 the animal's head. In addition he would have 

 enabled others to share his enjoyment with him. 

 There is a great field here for the painter ; and many 

 would welcome a change from the same old cows 

 and sheep tamely grazing in a meadow, which is all 

 that artists usually present to us of animal life. 



Among the most conspicuous animals met with 



