CAMERA SHOTS 



Some traveller has, let us say, put a bullet into a lion 

 caught in a trap. This may be, under certain circum- 

 stances, a very thrilling and even dangerous exploit. 

 But, instead of sticking to the facts, this lion-killer will 

 furnish a description of a lion-hunt, garnished with ex- 

 citing details. 



It is incredible how the public has been gulled by 

 descriptions of travels that were either wholly imagi- 

 nary or composed, in the manner of a composite photo- 

 graph, from the experiences of others than the writer. 



In the interest of science and truth, it is essential that 

 travellers, in their books, should distinguish between 

 their own experience's and the reports of others, and 

 that the illustrations be based on sketches by compe- 

 tent artists, if possible from life, either on the hunting- 

 ground, or, at least, in zoological gardens, or — and this 

 is the best method — on pictures taken on the spot, 

 reproducing not only the animals, but also their typical 

 environment. 



We are in the dark, in many respects, regarding bio- 

 logical facts concerning our own native animals, and 

 instantaneous pictures of these animals taken in a 

 state of liberty are by no means numerous. This is still 

 more the case with wild animals of virgin countries. 

 Regarding these, personal observations of their habits 

 and habitats are of eminent interest, and photographic 

 reproductions of their life in full liberty are, according 

 to the opinion of men like Professor Matschie and Dr. 



IS 



