The Mountain Chickadees 
root of a pine tree overlooking the Cottonwood Lakes in Inyo County, 
at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. The first stage of photographic 
preparation involved sawing off the end of the root where the Mountain 
Chickadees held forth, so as almost to expose the babies. The old 
birds were considerably disconcerted at first, and they were especially 
afraid to trust the heavy felted material, chiefly marmot fur, of their 
own providing, which lapped over the edge of the sawed-off stump. 
They seemed to fear being smothered in its abundance, for as often as 
they lighted in it, they sprang out in great alarm. After many efforts 
I had the good fortune to catch both parents at the nest for three con¬ 
secutive exposures, though the roar of the shutter never failed to frighten 
them. The last exposure was made while both were standing crowded 
in the cavity, and they jumped as if shot. This circumstance of their 
being caught together in a narrow place seemed to impress them, for when 
a few moments later they found themselves in the same position, they 
bethought them of their recent experience and jumped so suddenly 
(although the camera did not go off at that time) that they looked like 
fragments of an exploding bomb. 
After these experiences it was a 
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