BIRD-NESTING WITH A CAMERA 191 



thing in taking photographs of this kind and ex- 

 periencing difficulties and dangers of this nature 

 is that one does not know until reaching the dark 

 room and developing the plate whether the photo- 

 graph is or is not successful. On this occasion, the 

 photographer was in sore distress, for not only was 

 he drenched to the skin and presented a pitiable 

 plight, but he was afraid all his efforts to secure a 

 picture of the Moorhen's homestead were in vain. 

 On developing his plate, however, an excellent 

 picture was displayed to view, so that he was 

 amply repaid for his trouble after all. 



I must tell you, however, how we contrived to 

 bandage him up so that he might appear more 

 presentable for his journey homewards. The 

 black mud and water were oozing from his boots, 

 his feet were saturated, and altogether he was the 

 reverse of comfortable. Once more the keepers 

 came to the rescue, for they ordered him to take 

 off his socks, and they dexterously bound round 

 his feet a couple of red, gaudy-looking handker- 

 chiefs, and in this condition he trudged homewards. 

 I think the reader will agree, however, the results 

 justified the pains expended upon the Moorhen's 

 family nursery, and that our photographer was to 

 be justly congratulated after all upon securing a 

 picture of the object of which he went in quest. 



As illustrating my remarks upon the effect wind 

 produces in taking Nature photographs out of 



k 



