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HOW TO APPROACH BIRDS. 



Watching the wild fowl. 



Even the novice need not be taught how to approach the 

 more common and familiar birds, which seem to court, rather 

 than shun, human companionship; but there are times when 

 it becomes necessary to get close to a rare bird, to examine it 

 carefully or observe its habits, while a near approach to a shy 

 bird may tax the powers of the most skilful observer. 



The Approach on Foot. 



To be successful in this the beginner must imitate in some 

 respects the behavior of the fox or the lynx, which are able 

 occasionally to get near enough to wild birds to capture some 

 that the human animal finds difficult to get within range of his 

 field glass. How are the wild animals enabled to do this? 

 (1) They are inconspicuously or protectively colored. (2) Their 

 feet are softly padded and their movements noiseless. (3) They 

 go on all fours, creeping close to the ground, and, taking ad- 

 vantage of the slightest cover, keep concealed as much as pos- 

 sible. (4) Their movements are so slow, at need, as to be 

 imperceptible. In all these things we may imitate them. 



Bird students often are dressed conspicuously, and shod with 

 hard leather. Their tread, as it jars on the delicate senses of 

 the lower animals, seems to shake the ground. The dead 



