24 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



properly arranged would make an excellent field 

 blind. 



It is difllcult to carry one of these blinds in 

 addition to a camera, etc., without assistance, and 

 I fear that the inconvenience attending their use 

 will restrict them to the few enthusiasts who count 

 neither time, labor, nor cost in attaining a desired 

 end. 



For my own part, I prefer, when possible, to con- 

 ceal my camera and make the exjiosure from a dis- 

 tance rather than to weight myself with a portable 

 blind and to endure the discomforts of being con- 

 fined within it. 



Sundries. — The bird photographer will find that 

 he requires numerous articles not usually to be found 

 in the regulation photographic outfit, as, for exam- 

 ple, climbers for ascending trees and stout cords for 

 hauling the camera up after him ; a dark-cloth, green 

 in color, to aid in disguising the camera, and a mir- 

 ror. The latter should be of plate glass, and meas- 

 ure at least twelve by ten inches. A good plan is to 

 buy a ])ieco of glass of desired size aud fi-ame it siiu- 

 ply in white ]>ine. It may then be attached to a 

 limb, a stick driven in the ground, or other conven- 

 ient object, by means of the ball-and-sticket clamp 

 mentioned under Tripods, which may l)e screwed into 

 the back or the outer border of the frame. Such a 

 mirror will reflect sunlight many yards to shaded 

 nests, where, in photogra])hing old or yoiuig l)irds, a 

 quick exposure is necessary. A vest-]iocket mii-ror, 

 for use in reflecting the reading of the diaphragms 

 or time on the shutter, will ])ermit cnw to make the 

 desired changes from the rear, a.nd thus jjrove help- 



