A New Method of Bird Study and Photography. 



known, the young may be examined and photographed if it is desired. At all events 

 they should be watched until the critical time arises for closer study. Mode of 



This decided upon in the manner already suggested, circumstances must Procedure, 



determine the course to be followed. 



If the nest, like that of a Robin or Kingbird, is saddled to the branch of a tree, saw 

 off the whole limb and nail it to stakes driven into the ground, so placed as always to give 

 the best light. The nesting bough, in case there is one, should be set with its long axis 

 parallel with the course of the sun, but the position of the bough or tent may be changed 

 during the day when exceptional conditions render it necessary. 



Either a dark foliage or a sky background may be chosen for the nest, according to 

 the desire of the operator or the possibilities of the situation. If not satisfied with a 

 natural background it would be possible to place dark or light screens behind the nesting 

 bough or to use reflected 

 light for softening the shad- 

 ows, but no experiments 

 have yet been made in this 

 direction. The tent is then 

 to be placed in position, or 

 it may be pitched and left 

 overnight beside the nest. 1 

 In other words, operations 

 may begin at once or be 

 postponed until the follow- 

 ing day, the better plan for 

 a beginner until he has 

 mastered minor difficulties, 

 which, though small in 

 themselves, are far from un- 

 important. When the tent 

 is closed absolute silence 

 must be maintained, for 

 while this is not always 

 necessary, it is the best rule 

 to follow during the first 

 days of observation. 



The best time to begin 

 is from eight to nine o'clock 

 in the morning, because the 

 young will then have been 

 fed, and the sun will be 

 getting high enough for 

 the most rapid photograph- 

 ic work. One may spend 

 as many hours a day, and as many days at one nest, as time permits or inclination decides. 



1 Directions for use of the tent are given in Chapter III. 



Fig. 5. Nest-hole of Flicker, used by Bluebird. Trunk removed from tree, 

 and mounted on pivot so that it can be turned to any angle with sun. See 

 No. 15 of table, p. 12, Fig. 10, and Chapter VII. 



