HUNTING WITH THE CAMERA. 



ERNEST SETON THOMPSON. 



Was there ever a boy who had not an 

 instinctive longing to go hunting? Who 



has not t'elt the intense enjoyment in all 

 the circumstances of the pursuit, aside from 

 the fact of gratifying a deeply rooted in- 

 stinct? The life in the open air, the ex- 

 hilarating exercise, the matching of one's 

 own skill, pluck and endurance with those 

 of the animal, all are fascinating beyond 

 expression. 



precious treasures of the camera and are 

 full of scientific and pictorial value. 



Think of the many advantages in this 

 kind of hunting, in addition to those al- 

 ready cited. It is not expensive. There is 

 no close season. You do not extirpate your 

 game. There is room for all. You do not 

 make enemies, but rather friends, of those 

 whose lands you trespass on. You are sure 

 of a measure of triumph. It may be in- 



MRS. WOODCOCK AT HOME. 



PHOTO BY J. H. NEAI.EV. 



On the other hand all thoughtful boys 

 must realize that hunting is always more or 

 less cruel and Unnecessary. It also gives 

 full rein to the brute part of our nature, 

 and usually ends by turning a harmless and 

 exquisitely beautiful creature into a useless, 

 filthy, lump of carrion. 



But science has provided us with a new 

 kind of hunting which offers all the fascina- 

 tion, the exercise, and the open air sur- 

 roundings, the competition, and the tri- 

 umph of the chase, with a superb trophy to 

 show, and yet without any of the attendant 

 cruelties. 



It is hunting with the camera, and it has 

 become a leading pursuit among those who 

 50 years ago would have been mere butch- 

 ers of wild creatures. And many of the 

 trophies of their hunts are among the most 



dulged in anywhere; even the city man will 

 find that the cats and sparrows on the roofs 

 will afford excellent sport when he has not 

 the time to go farther afield. And lastly 

 the hunter knows he is doing good work 

 for art and for science and may some day 

 secure a negative that will actually make 

 him famous. 



Not long ago, an enthusiastic camera- 

 shot found a w r oodcock sitting on its nest 

 in the swamp. After much patient con- 

 trivance he secured a most successful pho- 

 tograph of the devoted mother. It is to- 

 day framed, in his study, and copies have 

 been given to his most intimate friends. 

 Whenever he looks at it he enjoys it as a 

 photograph and as a souvenir of an experi- 

 ence of unalloyed pleasure — the trophy of 

 his most exciting hunt. And it will be so 



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