THE BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER'S OUTFIT 23 



where a strong head light can not be avoided non- 

 halation plates may be employed. 



So mnch industry, skill, and patience are gener- 

 ally required of the bird photographer before he 

 makes an exposure tliat he should guard against all 

 chances of failure from the photographic side. It is 

 therefore advisable to thoroughly test plates which 

 it is probable may be exposed on a very difficult 

 subject. Under no circumstances should the jjlate 

 holders be needlessly exposed to the light, and when 

 the camera is to be left for an indefinite jjeriod with 

 the slide drawn from the holder and plate ready to 

 expose, it should be carefully wrapped in the dark 

 cloth. 



Blinds. — As the sportsman constructs blinds in 

 which he may conceal himself from his prey, so the 

 bird photographer may employ various means of 

 hiding from his subjects. The Keartons recommend 

 an artificial tree trunk for use in wooded places and 

 an artificial rubbish heap for open fields. The former 

 may be made of light duck, painted to resemble 

 bark, and jilaced over a frame. 



The frame of the Keartons' is of bamboo, but I 

 find white pine answers very well, the main things 

 to be considered being lightness and portability. 

 The frame should therefore be collapsible in order 

 that it may be easily packed. 



The Keartons' field blind or " rubbish heap " con- 

 sists of an umbrella, to each of the ribs of which 

 strips of bamboo four feet in length are tied. This 

 is then covered with light brown hoUand and wisps 

 of straw tied over it in such a way as to " virtually 

 thatch the whole structure." Doubtless cornstalks 



