Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-04-08

SSgISs NSWIC/d S/lL CLOWs
The most important item In the out
NJ specially necessary for the Pho
tographing OF living animals is. after
the lens. some device for concealing
the camera. or operator. or both.
am almost inclined 90 rank II before
the lens In importance. inasmuch as II
Is obviously useless TO possess the
most perfect lens that was ever made
II there IL no opportunity TO bring II
within working distance OF the de-
sired quarry.
In nine cases out OF ten success In
this difficult but fascinating branch
OF work depends entirely upon perfect
conccalment. For n that Is once at
taincd the most timid bird. II II sees
nothing TO alarm IL. will have no hest
tation In approaching Its nest aud can
then be photographed without further
loss OF time. Many special devices
have been used by different workers.
and very ingenious. not TO say sensa-
tional, some OF them have been: but
most, II not all OF them. have lacked
the essential qualities OF lightness
and portability.
II whole season were TO be spent
on one farm. or In one district OF not
too great an extent. artificial tree
trunks and the hollow skins OF domes-
tic animals would no doubt prove OF
excellent service for the shyet and
most timld creatures: but for the trav'
cling naturalist their weight and lack
Of portability would be fatal disquaiit.
cations.
When | first started this work In
1898. 16 years ago. my first idea was
20 use a large bag made OF thin. green
fabric. big enough TO cover the camera
and tripod. while crouched under
meath: and l still find a somewhat
similar continuance the best thing to
use for all-round work. My present
bag Is OF greenish khaki. which Is suit
able for use among bushes and hedges
and also for mud-hats and open spaces.
or among rocks and stones. II Is
shaped somewhat like a tent. J. e.. II
tapers towards the top and spreads
out at the bottom Just enough 10 In
clude the legs OF the tripod when well
straddled out. There Is hole for the
lens and also a peephole. several. In
fact. for after little use among
thorns and briars you can generally
find a peephole In any direction.
Il is we'll provided with tapes. by
means OF which branches. lunches OF
grass. leaves or bracken can be fas-
tened 10 the outside as a further dis
guise. II can thus be quickly adapted
20 suit almost any kind OF surround
ings while Il weighs next to nothing.
and can be packed up like focusing
cloth and takes up little more room.
Nv using inside this tent n sketching-
stool. which can be easily carried with
the carneracase. and just brings the
eve level with the horizontal focusing
eyepiece. or focusing glass. some de-
gree OF comfort may be obtained. At
yhy rate, II Is far less firing than
squatting on the ground. or kneeling.
when n long wait OF four OF Ave hours
or more may be necessary.
Hidden in this find that birds OF
the most timid disposition approach
their nest much more quickly than
when | merely use a rough screen Of
branches or other impromptu hiding
contriyances. For instance. last spring
I Maid A short visit TO Holland. where
I gave this tent q good trial. II was
most satisfactory TO see how quickly
avocets settled themselves on their
nests and approached my hiding place
without appearing to notice anything
very strange. In this case was work
ing on a perfectly bare mud-hat desti-
!,,,e az any cover: and. as there was
M vegetation OF any sort available. Il
.x.s not possible to add anything 10
a,sruise the appearance Of the tent. II
must therefore have been most con-
sn,euous object. and yet. as there was
No indication OF any human being. the
birds appeared to take very little no
lice OF ".
Afterwards I camped out AT the edge
~ a creek. about the margins OF which
they were feeding. They had no hest
tation I'm passing me on the further
side OF the creek at a distance OF
about ten yards. Besides avocets.
both oystercatchers and red-shanks