56 IN BIRD-LAND 



would remain in the nest while the other would 

 bring food, but afterwards they would both go 

 away together to bring back insects for their brood 

 at very brief intervals throughout the day. On 

 June 8th the ten young left the nest, and I was 

 fortunate enough to obtain several photographs 

 of them. The young of some birds return to their 

 nest to roost, and I wished to see whether these 

 did so, but after they took their departure they 

 did not return to the vicinity of their first home. 

 The nest of the Great Titmouse was no easy 

 matter to photograph, as it was placed ten feet 

 from the ground in a tree stump ; but by fastening 

 two tripods together, and then putting some pieces 

 of wood on the lower one, a stand for the camera 

 of sufficient height was constructed. Even then, 

 however, the difficulty of focussing was consider- 

 able ; but this was at last overcome by placing a 

 ladder securely in a slanting direction, so forming 

 a standing-place for the operator. The tripod 

 being very rickety, it was some time before the 

 right position could be arranged. When all was 

 focussed, and the plate was in position, the camera 

 "wobbled" so much that we feared it would be 

 impossible to take a satisfactory photograph ; but 

 after coming down to terra firma and waiting for 

 some minutes for the sun to rise it was early 



