The operation of feeding. 
graph, not only the nest, but the bird upon 
it as well. This was a decade ago, when | 
was just beginning to photograph wild 
birds, and | did not utilize the opportunity 
as fully as I should have done later. How- 
ever, | set up the camera upon the tripod, 
very close to the nest, and, attaching the 
thread to the shutter, sat down under the 
next tree to await my opportunity. The 
hummer returned to the nest at once, pay- 
ing no heed to the instrument. Unfor- 
tunately the foliage obscured the light, and 
at that time | was under the false impres- 
sion that a slow plate would give the best 
results, with most detail, in this sort of 
work. This necessitated a timed exposure, 
and the bird was almost sure to turn her 
head when the shutter opened. Thus | 
accumulated a series of pictures of a double- 
headed hummer, a species which is not 
recognized by scientists. One negative, 
from a snapshot, was sharp but very faint. 
Yet there is hope even thus of a valuable 
exposure, if only there be detail, however 
weak. The best thing to do is to print or 
enlarge on the most contrasty grade of 
glossy lamp-light paper, which will give a 
strong, plucky print. If it is too black, 
reduce it to the proper degree with red 
prussiate of potassium reducer, as one 
would a plate, giving local reduction where 
it is needed. Then photograph the print 
in a way not to show the grain of the paper, 
and the resulting negative, as compared 
with the original, will prove a surprise and 
a delight. A rare and valuable picture is 
22 
III 
