29 
NATURAL HISTORY RECORDS WITH A 
CAMERA. 
(Illustrated by the Lantern). 
By Mr. G. A. BOOTH. February 18 th, 1908. 
Mr. Jas. Lancaster, J.P., presided. 
The Lecturer, after appropriate references to photography 
as a pastime, and the way in which it had been simplified 
so that anyone with a reasonable amount of care could be 
more or less successful in obtaining permanent records of 
interesting objects, explained his own methods of procedure 
in his wild nature study photography. He began photo- 
graphy only ‘half-a-dozen years ago but he regretted he had 
not taken it up many years earlier. He had found it of 
great aid and was astonished at the number of enquiries 
he was constantly receiving respecting his natural history 
photography. During the last few years natural history 
photography and the study of wild nature had advanced 
rapidly in public favour, but there was plenty of room for 
progress. It had been advocated that nature study ought 
to be more widely taught in our schools. We should all 
endeavour to popularise the study of natural history among 
the young because it elevated the mind. The harvest time 
of the naturalist was undoubtedly spring, with the returning 
song of birds, the hum of insects, and vitality in every leaf 
of tire trees — all vying with each other in merry making at 
this time of the year. The main factor in their rambles 
should be observation — to know what to look for and where 
to expect it ; also to make use of the ears almost as much 
as the eyes. This would require much perseverance and 
patience. It was wonderful what might be done by calm 
and patient treatment if they possessed sympathetic feeling 
for their subject. Animals and birds possessed a nervous 
temperament and were constantly and easily frightened. 
When signs of alarm were observed it was well to sit or lie 
down quietly, remaining motionless for some time, after 
which the subject would probably realise that no harm was 
meant, and would more or less ignore you — just exactly 
what you wanted. The naturalist should be prepared to 
to sit, crawl, or lie full length on the ground, a light mackintosh 
sheet being necessary. 
