BIRDS AND THE CAMERA 67 



With the perspiration dripping from every pore, 

 and the horse-flies trying persistently to make their 

 dinner off my neck, is it to be wondered at that my 

 stock of patience was soon nearly exhausted ? Yet 

 there was something decidedly amusing in the beha- 

 viour of my little models, their peculiar objection to 

 the business of posing and the aggravating manner 

 in which they expressed their disapproval of the 

 whole proceeding. Many times I would succeed in 

 putting three or even four on. And then, just as I 

 was picking up the last of the unruly crew, the first 

 and then the second would fall limply to the ground. 

 When these were restored to their perch the others 

 would drop off one by one. It really was quite 

 enough to try the patience of a saint. Suddenly, and 

 with no apparent reason, the young rascals became 

 possessed of a better spirit, and sat as quiet as models 

 should. I was greatly relieved at this welcome 

 change, but how was it to be accounted for? 

 Apparently the conditions had not altered, so I was 

 forced to believe that a note, which one of the parents 

 had just uttered, was a command to the young ; 

 perhaps he had discovered that I meant no harm, 

 and therefore wished his children to behave them- 

 selves. Whatever was the cause I was thankful 

 for it, and immediately arranged the camera, so that 

 in a few minutes all the Masters and Misses Fly- 

 catcher were secured by the dry plate ready to be 

 handed down to, we hope, an admiring posterity. 



No sooner had I made the exposure, than Mrs. 

 Fly-catcher arrived ; till then she had not shown 

 very much anxiety for her youngsters, but now she 

 appeared with some kind of insect in her capacious 



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