amount of material has been collected for this nest; it almost
fills the letter-box.
Now you have made the exposures let us go in to tea. We
have one plate left, and it is a good plan to keep one unexposed
in case anything extra special turns up on our journey back.
It is very unfortunate to find a good subject and be unable to
photograph it because we have used all our plates. It is far
better to carry one home again still unexposed than have to
regret the want of one for some interesting subject which may
not turn up again for a long time.
That cup of tea and the home-made bread and butter and
cake seemed to be extra nice; but I often find it is so in the
country, and expect the sauce of appetite has something to do
with it. As the light will still be good for quite an hour, we
will walk through the little wood at the back of the house to a
field beyond, and we may be able to find a few subjects for our
next excursion. In the meantime, you will be able to get
some practical experience by developing the exposures made
to-day, and the importance of this part of the work must not
be overlooked, as, after all, it is very unsatisfactory to spend
the time and patience required to obtain subjects if you
cannot produce good negatives from the exposed plates.
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS Si
Let us examine this hawthorn bush by the side of the path.
After a certain amount of experience one gets to know where
to expect to find certain nests, and in this case I have not
been disappointed. I knew this was a suitable place for a
Chaffinch to build its nest, and here is one, but it is not finished,
so we must remember it when we come again next week.
Look ! there goes a Stoat across the path. You didn't see
him? no, you must keep a sharper look-out as you cannot
expect he will stand still for you to gaze at him. He seemed
to be making his way across the ride and evidently did not
expect to see us. Let us go and see if he was there for any
purpose. Mind where you tread, there is a Pheasant's nest,
look, just in front of you; do not disturb it as there are only
four or five eggs at present and they are almost covered over
with the dead leaves. I fancy Mr. Stoat was on a poaching
expedition and we just arrived at the right time, although,
perhaps, he thought at the wrong time for him. We will hope
the nest will contain more eggs next time we come, and if they
are there will try and get a photograph of them. I have
heard Pheasant preserving described as, "Up gets a guinea,
off goes a penny farthing, and down comes half a crown (per-
haps)." That is to say, each Pheasant costs about a guinea to
rear and when shot is worth about two shillings and sixpence.
Here is a beautiful bunch of Primroses at the foot of this
old stump. Would you like to expose your last plate on this?
I think, as the light is getting weaker now, we had better not
wait any longer. Besides, we shall only just have comfortable
time after taking this to get to the station, as we are going a
longer way round now. As you have decided to take it,
remember what I said about looking down too much at the
Thrush's nest and avoid the same kind of thing here. Shorten
82 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
the tripod as much as possible and fix the ends firmly in the
ground or it may slip during the exposure, causing a double
image on the plate. Arrange the camera so that you look
across the bunch, and try and get the flowers against the dark
moss-covered old tree stump, as this will help to show them up
and give you an effective background. You will probably
require to stop down to /22, and as the light here is a good
deal cut off by the branches of the trees overhead the exposure
will be a relatively long one. You find it is fifty seconds by
your meter; well, you may give it a minute, and as there is no
wind here in the wood you will not get any movement on that
account. I have already cautioned you about setting your
tripod firm. You will not often see a prettier group of Prim-
roses than this one, and I hope the negative will turn out all
right. I should like to have a print from it by and by.
As you have exposed your last plate you can pack up the
camera and stand, first putting the lens away in its case and
taking care no part of the apparatus has been overlooked and
left behind. We have made twelve exposures during the
afternoon, and have obtained, in addition to the Primroses,
seven different kinds of nests, so I think you ought to be very
well satisfied with your first excursion, so far. I shall hope to
hear next time I see you that all the exposures have been
turned into good negatives.
Fig. 44. Pear Tree in Blc
Fig 45. Gooseberries.
CHAPTER IX
HOW TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF OUR COMMONER
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS AND EGGS Continued
GOOD afternoon; so you are ready for your second excursion.
Although we have had several heavy April showers during the
morning, the weather has become a little more settled since
mid-day, and I don't think we are likely to have any more rain,
except perhaps a slight occasional shower. I am glad to see
you have put on some good thick boots and leggings, as we
shall find the undergrowth rather wet after the morning
showers. But with the warm air it will soon dry up if we get
no more rain. I keep an extra thick pair of boots for these
country rambles and prepare them by rubbing a preparation
of oil well in. This helps to keep the wet out and the feet dry.
I am glad to hear the plates exposed last week have turned
out successfully. Thanks for the print of the Primroses,
which has made a very pretty picture, and later on you will be
able to make an effective lantern slide from this negative.
The other prints I will look at more carefully in the train, as
we shall have twenty minutes to spare.
Here we are; look at the Rookery yonder in the trees
round the church. The birds are very busy now and I expect
most of the nests contain eggs. When you wish to obtain a
photograph of their nests you had better do so from terra
firma, using a long focus lens, as trying to obtain one from the
trees is not only a difficult but a dangerous task. Rooks are
8.3
84 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
most interesting birds, as you may easily find out for yourself
by watching them. On one occasion which came under my
notice, a gale had blown down several nests from the trees
where they had been built. One nest, however, remained,
and the other birds set about rebuilding their nests under-
neath this one that had stood firm. There were five nests
one above the other, and I was able to obtain a photograph of
it. I called it " Rook-building up-to-date, in flats! " The
five nests in the tree looked, from a distance, just like the
figure of a man.
The weather looks better now than it did when we left the
town, and we will go to the wood first to-day, because there is a
field on the other side of it where the Lapwing nests, and if we
are fortunate we may find a clutch of eggs. It is getting late
for them, but the first clutches are often taken for the market,
as the eggs are considered table delicacies and the early ones
fetch big prices. They are known as " Plover's eggs." As
we go through the wood let us look at the two nests we found
last week. Do you think you can show me where the
Pheasant's nest was? Ah! I see you did not note the place
carefully enough. It was not here, but about twenty yards
further on. I remember it was about half way between the
Chaffinch's nest in the hawthorn bush, which stood well out
from the other trees, and the old stump with the Primroses
round it. Here is the old stump, but the Primroses have lost
a good deal of their freshness and would not make such a
good picture to-day. I also noted down .there was a birch
tree nearly opposite where the nest was and that there was not
another one for some distance, so that it could not be mis-
taken. There is the birch tree just ahead. You must re-
member things look very different if approached from different
Fig. 46. By the Wayside (Wild Carrot).
Fig. 47. Rhododendron.
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS 85
directions. Last time we were walking the other way and
you do not recognise the place so well. The best plan is to
make careful notes in your pocket book of several different
points to help in identifying the site when a nest is discovered
which you want to find again, or you will often have great
difficulty in finding it the second time. Nests, as a rule, are
not exposed so openly that they can be found without some
amount of searching for, and you must also remember at this
time of year the foliage will grow considerably in the space of
a week, under the influence of the warm sunshine and showers.
Look at the hawthorn bush, beyond, it is now quite green and
you cannot see through it like you could last week. If the
Chaffinch's nest is still there it is much less likely to be dis-
covered now.
Here is the place where the Pheasant's nest was. I have
had a careful search, but cannot find anything of the eggs. I
can see where the nest was and am sure this is the right spot.
Possibly they may have been carried away by the keeper to
put under a hen, or the Stoat we saw last week may know what
has become of them. Anyhow, we must try and find another
nest and will come back to the wood presently. The Chaf-
finch's nest is all right; the bird is on. Look at her little
head and tail just showing above the edge of the nest. Ah!
you were not careful enough, and she has flown off. How
many eggs are there? Three; well there will be one or two
more probably before the clutch is complete. The nest is
rather high up and would be difficult to photograph unless
we could lengthen our tripod. However, as we are pretty
certain to find one in a better position for our purpose, we will
leave this, and perhaps may be able to obtain a photograph of
the young birds later on if they hatch out successfully.
86 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Now we will make straight for the Plovers' field, and as
their nests are very difficult to find we may not succeed in
discovering one. The hen bird, if on the nest, will rise directly
she hears the alarm note of her mate, who will probably see us
while we are still a considerable distance off, so be prepared
directly we come to the gate at the entrance to the field to try
and mark the spot where a bird may rise from. Come very
quietly and when you are ready I will clap my hands. There !
two birds flew up and I have marked the place one rose from as
near as I can. Let us walk straight up; I will keep my eyes
on the spot, and take care you do not put your foot into a
clutch of eggs as you walk across the field. We are now very
near the spot where the bird seemed to rise from, and, look,
we are very near the nest too ! Another yard and you would
have walked over it. There are four beautifully-marked
eggs; notice how they are arranged with the pointed ends in
the centre. By this arrangement the eggs take up less space
and are easier for the bird to cover. They are large in size, for
the bird, in common with the eggs of most birds whose chicks
run very soon after being hatched, and young birds of this
kind leave the egg more fully developed than those of the
warblers, etc., which are born blind and do not get their sight
for about five days after being hatched. These young Lap-
wings, about an hour after they are hatched, in fact as soon as
the warmth of their mother has dried their soft down, will run
and look after themselves, and this they do in a remarkable
manner by crouching on the ground and trying to conceal
themselves when danger threatens.
Even had we not already discovered the nest, we should
know there was one not far off as the birds are flying round us
continually, uttering their plaintive cry, pee-e-wit, pee-e-wit,
Fig. 48. Honesty in Bloom.
49- Honesty in Seed (same plant as Fig. 48).
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS 87
pee-G-wit. Look at the pair of them how they try to attract
our attention by swooping down to the ground quite close to
us. If we could, we would tell them they have nothing to
fear; we only want to " take " their eggs, in the sense of
obtaining a photograph of them. But I know, however clever
birds are and I am inclined to think they know more than
we give them credit for they could not understand us, so
the only thing to do is to take the photograph and get away
from the eggs as quickly as possible.
As the subject gets the full light from the sky the exposure
may be brief and need not exceed the minimum indicated by
the exposure meter. Now retreat five or six yards from the
nest and expose another plate to show the site of it. This will
give a good idea of how difficult the eggs are to see a short
distance away. Before you leave the spot I want you to
notice the difference between this nest and that of the Long-
tailed Tit we found last week. This one can hardly be called
a " nest " in comparison, as it only consists of a few bits of
dried grass lining the little tuft of green grass which has been
shaped by the breast of the sitting bird. The longer pieces of
the grass stand up round the eggs and help to conceal them.
Most of the ground-nesting birds' eggs have a peculiar glossy
surface which reflects the light from the sky. This again
helps to conceal the characteristic markings and so makes
them more difficult to see. The birds themselves know the
safest way is to leave their eggs to their natural surroundings
as soon as any danger threatens, and such eggs are more likely
to be discovered by accident than otherwise. Unless we
possess some knowledge of the method of finding them, hours
may be spent in an unfruitful search. I can recall, in my
earlier days, many attempts to find them, without success.
88 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Long-tailed Tit's nest takes from two to three weeks to
construct, and is rightly considered one of our most beautiful
examples of Bird Architecture. It has been known to con-
tain as many as two thousand feathers in the lining, each one
probably meaning a separate journey for the tiny architect.
As some of the earlier nests are built before there is any foliage
on the bushes they are often discovered and ruthlessly torn
out. It always makes me sad to come across a case of this
kind, and it is hard lines on the builder, after devoting so many
hours of labour, to have it made of no avail in a few moments
by some unthinking boy or man. I hope you will do all you
can to discourage such conduct.
Another Lapwing rose a short distance away from the
first, but as we have obtained a photograph of one clutch of
eggs we will not attempt to find the second nest now. I am
glad you have brought eighteen plates to-day as nests are
now getting more numerous. We will try and obtain a like
number of different subjects, unless one occurs which ought to
have more than one plate exposed on it, like the Lapwing's
nest we have just left. We might look round the hedges of
this field to start with, as they have been cut down during the
past winter and will therefore allow you to easily photograph
any nest found therein. Here is one, another nest of the
Chaffinch, and it has four eggs in it. This, again, is one of our
most beautiful nests, so small and neat and so tightly woven
together, the outside covered with lichen and made to
resemble so closely the lichen-covered fork of the branches
containing it. This nest is well exposed to view, and you
ought to be able to get a very good photograph of it.
When you have done, here is another Robin's nest, this
time in a hole in the bank just beyond where you are standing.
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS 89
The bird flew out when I tapped the hedge with my stick. It
contains five eggs, and there is a pretty root of Primroses close
to it which I think you will be able to include in the picture.
Notice how the dead leaves, which are used a good deal in the
foundation of the nest, are also left about in an apparently
untidy way near the entrance. This to the ordinary eye
would divert attention from the nest, but to the trained eye
would draw attention to it. As it will take you some little
time to make the exposure on these two subjects, I will search
a little further on while you are doing so. Be careful to rake
up the long grass where you have been standing after you
have finished, as if left trodden down this will call attention to
the place and the nest may suffer in consequence. When
possible, I always like to get a chance of taking the portraits
of the young birds when they get old enough. The best time
is just before they can fly, and if the nest is not discovered in
the meantime we shall be able to do this later on.
You have just finished in time. There is a slight shower
coming, I think ; cover your camera right over with the water-
proof focussing cloth and we will stand under the shelter of
this tree for a few minutes. The sunshine is already showing
in the distance on the other side of the shadow of the cloud.
But as you have brought your little cycling mackintosh, put it
over your shoulders. I always carry one with me. It takes
up very little room rolled up in the bag and is very useful in
a shower. As I often carry my plates in a satchel on my
back it serves to protect them and keep them dry too, which
is very necessary.
I have just seen the Robin fly back to its nest. When the
rain ceases we will walk quietly by and have a look at it, and
if you like you can try and obtain a photograph of it on the
9 o NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
nest. Hark! I think I heard the Cuckoo. Yes, I can hear it
again. There it is, look, flying across to the tree yonder. It
is the first time I have heard it this season. We must try and
discover a nest containing a Cuckoo's egg by and by; it will
make an interesting subject for you. When flying, the
Cuckoo is very like a hawk, and it is often mobbed by the
smaller birds, perhaps on this account. Occasionally one
sees a record of a Cuckoo having been seen in February or
even January, but I think without much doubt a Kestrel or
Sparrow-hawk has been mistaken for it, and that the
" Cuckoo " was really the individual who made the mistake.
It has ceased raining now, you can go back to the Robin's
nest. You will, no doubt, remember where you placed your
camera in taking the photograph just now. Go very quietly
to work and you may succeed without disturbing the bird.
Ah! she has gone off, she is^evidently not sitting very hard.
Well arrange your camera, put in the dark slide, set the
shutter, and draw the shutter of the slide ready for the ex-
posure, and place the green side of your focussing cloth over
all except the lens. Put the end of the pneumatic release on
the focussing cloth over the top of the camera and see that
nothing obstructs the lens, and come back to me here. Now
watch until the bird returns; she may be some time, but you
will be having your first lesson in patience. Do not talk loud,
keep quiet, and we will give her twenty minutes. Five
minutes is up, it seems a long time when waiting, but I can
see her some distance off, she is evidently anxious to return.
Look! she actually settled on the top of the camera, but did
not stay there long and has flown back to the hedge. Now
keep a sharp look out, as she will probably pop into the nest
slyly and you may not catch sight of her. Have you seen
Fig. 50. Nest of Larvae of Lackey Moth.
Fig-. 51. Large Mushroom
(Greatest diam. 14^ ins.; 7 ins. high).
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS 91
her? Not since you saw her on the hedge. Well you must
still try to educate your eye to observe better. I saw her go
into the nest a few minutes ago, and I have left her long
enough to get settled down comfortably I think. Now go
very carefully up to the camera and make the exposure. Do
not walk up direct from here, but go away into the field for a
few yards and then walk up quietly behind the camera. When
you get close enough take hold of the shutter release, glance
to see she is still on the nest, and give the exposure you have
ascertained two seconds. If she keeps still at all, she will
keep still for a much longer time than that. When you have
made the exposure, close the slide and quietly withdraw the
camera. There, you have succeeded. I remember my first
photograph of a Robin on its nest took me two hours and a
half to get, but with the help of my experience you have done
it in less than twenty minutes.
Let us now return to the wood and look for another
Pheasant's nest. We will examine this bank on the outskirts
of it as we pass along. Wait a minute, I have lost my stick;
I think I must have dropped it when we stood under the tree
yonder where I helped you put on your mackintosh. I will
run back and see ; you stay here.
I have found it; I wanted it to move some leaves in the
hedge just where you are standing; it looked something like
a nest to me. Yes, it is, and a Pheasant's nest too, full of
eggs. Look, I have carefully moved the leaves away with the
point of my stick and there are the eggs, eighteen of them; five
are a different colour to the others, showing that two birds
have been laying in the same nest. I expect the bird which
has laid the thirteen eggs will be the one to sit upon them and
the other will have to start a fresh nest elsewhere. This being
92 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
a larger subject will allow you to get further away or you will
not be able to show the immediate surroundings of the nest.
I always like to do this, because I think it adds interest to the
picture. After you have exposed a plate on the eggs, I will
re-cover them as they were before and you can then take the
nest again. There, I have re-covered them, and you are quite
right in expressing the opinion that anybody with untrained
eyes would be almost certain to pass the spot by and never
have the least suspicion there were eighteen eggs under those
dead leaves. I dare say the keeper knows they are there, and
no doubt a great many nests like this are found by Stoats,
Weasels, and Rats, who often carry off the eggs. I am glad
we have found this nest, as it will be still rather wet amongst
the cover in the wood.
Here is apparently another little clump of dead leaves
amongst this grass and bramble shoots in this dry ditch, but
I think I know what it is. Watch while I tap it with my
stick. There, you saw the bird go out this time ; it is a Chiff-
chaff's nest. It looks for all the world like a bit of rubbish,
but on the further side you will see the entrance to the pretty
domed nest, thickly lined with feathers. It contains six tiny
white eggs with a few dark purplish spots on them. These
are quite freshly laid, as the colour of the yolk can be seen
through the delicate shell, and it gives the egg a beautiful
pinkish tinge. Robin's eggs have the same appearance when
fresh, but the spots on these are more rusty in colour and
lighter than those on the eggs of the Chiffchaff . Perhaps you
noticed this when you photographed the Robin's nest just
now. I want you to remember this nest is about a foot off
the ground, and I will tell you why I called your attention to
it another time. You will have to place your tripod partly in
Fig. 52. Red Admiral Butterfly (wings expanded).
Fig. 53. Red Admiral Butterfly (wings partly closed).
COMMONER BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS 93
the ditch in order to get the camera low enough, as the nest is
so near the ground. Do not hurry; get a good view where
you can see some of the eggs, although perhaps not all, as the
nest is fairly deep. You can reflect a little light upon them
by the mirror, as the inside of the nest is rather dark, and this
will help to equalise the exposure required for the inside and
outside of the nest. I heard the cock bird just now, singing
his little song of two notes: " chiff chaff, chiff chaff," or " chip
chop, chip chop," whichever you like. He gets his name Chiff-
chaff from his song, and he is one of the earliest of the spring
migrants to arrive on our shores. In suitable seasons he may
be heard uttering his little notes from the middle to the end of
March onwards, and to me the sound is always a welcome one,
as it tells of the approaching spring. The birds are commoner
in some districts than in others, but I have always found their
nests during the season. Being double-brooded, eggs may
be found as late as July.
I have arranged to have tea to-day at the keeper's cottage,
which is not far away, as we can work on while the light still
remains good, and then go in to tea. You still have ten un-
exposed plates left. I should like to look at the Thrush's nest