PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS AND EGGS 41 



work. If the bird photographer commenced this 

 branch of the art by attempting to portray a yellow- 

 breasted chat or a crow on her nest, he might, were 

 he not of a very persevering nature, give up for ever 

 any hope of success. And, on the other hand, 

 should he choose for his first experiment a bird such 

 as the wood-thrush, he would underestimate the dif- 

 ficulties and have an entirely wrong idea of bird-on- 

 the-nest photography. The actual photographing of 

 the sitting bird is in itself a most easy task //'the bird 

 is willing, but how much depends on that if will 

 be readily appreciated by the time one has made two 

 or three attempts to secure such pictures. The first 

 thing to do in order to insure success is to become 

 friends with the bird ; let her become accustomed to 

 your presence, then gradually introduce the camera, 

 first placing it at some distance from the nest, then 

 gradually bringing it nearer. The chances of success 

 are far greater during the first few days after the 

 young are hatched than when there are only eggs; 

 for, as you well know, a bird will often abandon her 

 eggs upon very small provocation, while she will sel- 

 dom leave the young so long as they are alive and 

 need her help. When the young are very small they 

 need constant feeding and watching, and should the 

 day be cold or damp the mother's warmth will be an 

 absolute necessity. Relying on this, I would recom- 

 mend such a day as affording the best opportunities 



