Noddies Flying and Alighting,. 
fellows are not over tame, so, from the 
nearest bushes, about fifteen yards away, 
we use the telephoto on them—or else my 
longest focus, 18-inch lens; for I find that 
I can ordinarily get a better, clearer and 
larger picture of a bird by an enlargement 
from this rapid exposure than from a 
direct print from the negative made with 
the slow and unwieldy telephoto. Then, 
upon my knees, head covered with the 
focus-cloth, I crawl slowly nearer and 
nearer. The movement is so gradual 
and the object so nondescript that they 
are not alarmed. At length I am quite 
near, and make an exposure. 
From here it is but a few steps to the 
centre of abundance of the breeding 
noddies. Most of their nests are upon 
the bushes, just above the beach, or on 
bunches of cactus. Many of the noddies 
fly up as we approach, but they soon 
settle down again upon the bushes or on 
their nests. Their quietness is in strange 
contrast with the conduct and tempera- 
ment of the sooties. In photography now 
we may do about anything we wish. Here 
is a nest where the male stands close 
beside his partner as she broods. Possibly 
he may fly up as I focus, about a yard 
away, but he will soon be back, and the 
picture is easily secured. Meanwhile, 
thus engaged, coat brushes against 
another nest close by, with a little setting 
hen upon it. She does not fly, but bristles 
up and croaks her feeble little remon- 
strance. I stroke her on the back, and 
no sooner do my fingers touch her than 
she is off. But when the egg is nearly 
hatched we could lift her off without a 
struggle, and, replacing her, she would 
continue brooding, without showing any 
alarm. From this trait, Linneeus, the 
great naturalist who named the species, 
Galea the noddy, Anous stolidus—stupid 
fool, it means. I am inclined to resent 
having any such epithet applied. 
So we can go on, as long as we wish, 
photographing the noddies around us— 
in flight; on the bushes; over the egg; 
beside the egg; tail cocked prettily; rolling 
the tongue; looking down or up; the 
croaking, scolding posture, when noddy 
strikes the attitude of the cawing crow 
(pretty little sea-crow); and many other 
quaint poses. But, really, it is hard to 
tell when to stop this photography. Iam 
sure, even if I were to remain on Bird Key 
the livelong season, I should find some- 
thing new to photogr raph every day—as 
long. as the plates lasted. In the three 
days and a fraction that I was there I 
managed to keep my enthusiasm under 
some sort of restraint, and only exposed 
one hundred and fifty-six plates! 
