APPARATUS AND GENERAL ADVICE. g 



magnesium-ribbon, but ifc is not nearly so satis- 

 factory as the flash-lamp, and upon one occasion, 

 at least, a piece fell off on to the bellows of the 

 camera, and burnt a large hole clean through it 

 before we could say "Jack Robinson." 



A pair of good field glasses are most essential 

 for watching shy birds and beasts to their haunts, 

 and in selecting them it is desirable to go to makers 

 of repute and choose a pair that are not too heavy, 

 else they may become burdensome during a long 

 day's tramp. If manufacturers of binoculars would 

 reserve a small compartment in their leather cases 

 for a note-book, pencil, and bit of wash-leather or 

 selvyt, they would do field naturalists a real service. 



We now come to the consideration of one of 

 the most important features connected with the 

 photography of shy wild animals in their native 

 haunts viz. the effectual concealment of the camera 

 and its operator. In hiding up it is necessary to 

 be able to see the field covered by the camera, and 

 at the same time avoid being seen by the creature 

 one desires to photograph. Silence and stillness 

 are also absolutely imperative, but their rewards are 

 great and assured. 



In the case of timid or cunning birds, of which 

 we desired to make studies on or near their nests, 

 we used to build a bower close by and huddle the 

 camera and its owner inside ; but the gradual 

 drooping of leaves, or the unbending of boughs, 

 invariably showed some portion of one or both, and 



