A Gentle Criticism 



By JOHN LYALL GARRETSON 



With photographs by the author 



LET us encourage the study of natural history with the aid of the 

 camera, and by our friendly criticism may we cause others to 

 think of ways to benefit themselves and at the same time bring 

 pleasure into the hearts of the lovers of nature. 



With this idea in mind, it is the desire of the writer to call atten- 

 tion to the pages of many of our best magazines on natural history, 

 with their interesting pictures, especially of birds, many of which are 



YOUNG RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS 



admirable for what they bring to us, but are not strictly true representations 

 of nature. 



The pictures, as we see them, truly portray the birds of the woods and 

 meadows while in a state of alarm; hence, they convey to us false impres- 

 sions of what we believe to be animal life in its wild state. 



The question before us is: How may we overcome the obstacles which 

 hinder us from accomplishing the end we are striving for; that is, pho- 

 tography of nature while at home, as it were ? 



There seems to be but one solution to be ofifered, and that is, to 

 so arrange our work that the subject photographed be wholly uncon- 



(73) 



