PHOTOGRAPHING ANIMALS 75 



picture. We were in a canoe ; slowly and noiselessly 

 we came through the smooth water ; scarcely a ripple 

 did the canoe make. Nearer and nearer, and still the 

 bull had not seen us. When within about seventy 

 feet (I was using a telephoto lens) I stood up slowly 

 and quietly, while the animal was busy feeding. No 

 sooner was Tin position than he looked up. A finer 

 picture could not be imagined. His enormous ant- 

 lers, still in the velvet, seemed almost out of propor- 

 tion to his size. And he stood absolutely still while 

 I, trembling with excitement, focussed the camera 

 and pressed the button. Instantly the huge beast 

 made a dash for the shore and in a second was lost 

 to view, and I sat down congratulating myself on 

 having secured such a splendid picture. Imagine 

 my disgust when, on going to change the plate-holder, 

 I discovered that in my excitement I had neglected 

 to draw the slide. My chance was gone, and never 

 again did another such opportunity present itself. 

 All of which only goes to show that coolness and 

 presence of mind are as much needed in stalking^ 

 animals with the camera as with the gun. Every 

 little detail must be thought of. That sounds easy 

 enough, but how often it happens that we lose our 

 very best chances through forgetting some trivial 

 item ! The only way to avoid such experiences is to 

 have a regular system of examining the camera when 

 about to make a picture; have a regular routine, and 



