AMERICAN OBNITEOLOGY. 33 



the good fortune to obtain the services of a thoroughly equipped orni- 

 thologist, who has read the proof with the most painstaking care, which 

 has been ably supplemented by the efforts of a number of professional 

 proof readers. The result is a book which Dr. Coues would have been 

 proud to own as the crowning work of his life. The publishers an- 

 nounce it as being absolutely authoritative and definitive, and express 

 confidence that it is entirely free from errors of statement or form. 



ANSWERS TO QUERIES. 



In this new department, we shall endeavor to answer questions of an 

 ornithological nature. The time at our disposal for correspondence is 

 very limited and we have been wholly unable to answer the host of 

 queries that have come in the past. Our subscribers may feel at lib- 

 erty to ask questions as freely as they wish concerning birds, bird pho- 

 tography or photography in general. 



We have received inquiries from a great many sources concerning 

 the outfit used by the editor in his bird work. Perhaps a detailed de- 

 scription of the required apparatus will satisfactorily answer all 

 questions in this line. The most important part of an outfit, of 

 course, is the camera and the most important part of the camera is the 

 lens. A 4x5 camera is the most suitable for all work pertaining to 

 birds, or their nests and eggs. Anything larger means that you are 

 simply carrying useless weight and bulk. A good 4x5 negative will 

 easily enlarge to a 16x20 if necessary, and if you can not get a good 

 picture on a 4x5 plate you certainly could do no better on a larger one 

 and the expense would be greater. 



As to the make of the camera, you can suit yourself on that; the past 

 season I have used mostly a home made one. It is not a very hand- 

 some affair, but I did not make it to look at; it was made to accommo- 

 date the large lens that I was using. In selecting the camera of your 

 dealer, notice particularly the bed of the camera and the extension; see 

 that when the bellows are fully extended there is sufficient strength to 

 hold the lens without undue vibration. 



The ordinary lenses, provided that they are double, supplied with the 

 camera are all right, only I should make arrangements with my dealer 

 to fit a 5x7 lens in the 4x5 box. This lens usually has a focal length 

 of about 8 in., and it will be absolutely necessary to have a camera with 

 a draw, or bellows length of at least 13 in. A longer draw than this 

 will be better but will also cost more. 



The past season I used a 9 1-2 inch focus, Extra Rapid Universal 

 Lens made by the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. As this has been sat- 

 isfactory in all respects, I shall probably use the same lens next season. 



