viii PREFACE 



exterminate our less common breeding birds than 

 they themselves may have any idea of; otherwise, 

 I think they would not do such injustice to the 

 birds, as well as to those who derive pleasure from 

 observing the habits of the feathered tribes. It is 

 quite possible to enjoy the healthful pursuit of 

 birds-nesting without in any way disturbing the 

 birds' charming little homes, or causing the 

 builders to desert their precious eggs. I prefer, 

 when birds-nesting, to take a camera, and to 

 photograph the nests, and so take away a 

 lasting memorial which really gives more 

 pleasure than mere possession of the eggs could 

 ever yield. 



For photographing nests, or birds while sitting, 

 or feeding their young, I use a half-plate camera. 

 A silent shutter is necessary, and mine is a 

 Thornton-Pickard Time and Instantaneous pattern ; 

 I have fixed it inside the camera, attached to the 

 front, with a thick padding of velvet between, 

 which effectively deadens the slight noise which 

 the shutter otherwise will make. If a shutter is 

 used which makes noise enough to startle a bird, 

 a very quick exposure is necessary ; but if a silent 

 one is used a slower exposure can be given, which 

 in dull weather is a great advantage. Before I 

 made this alteration, I failed to get many success 



