THE BIRD PHO'TOGRAPHER’S OUTFIT 23 
where a strong head light can not be avoided non- 
halation plates may be employed. 
So much industry, skill, and patience are gener- 
ally required of the bird photographer before he 
makes an exposure that 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 plate 
holders be needlessly exposed to the ight, and when 
the camera is to be left for an indefinite period 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 lght duck, painted to resemble 
bark, and placed 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 holland and wisps 
of straw tied over it in such a way as to “ virtually 
thatch the whole structure.” Doubtless cornstalks 
