. Woodland, field and shore : wild nature depicted with pen and camera . of the, circling yearfor observing and photographing certain kindsof birds is when the ground is covered with a mantleof snow. Hunger subdues the wildest of animalsinto tameness, and this is especially true of thefeathered tribes. By using due caution, in hardweather a field naturalist can closely approach evensuch a wary bird as the Carrion-Crow or Kestrel ;while others more sociable, such as Robins, will evencome to the open window, or actually feed fromones hand. During the winter of 1899-1900, I gave muchattention to
. Woodland, field and shore : wild nature depicted with pen and camera . of the, circling yearfor observing and photographing certain kindsof birds is when the ground is covered with a mantleof snow. Hunger subdues the wildest of animalsinto tameness, and this is especially true of thefeathered tribes. By using due caution, in hardweather a field naturalist can closely approach evensuch a wary bird as the Carrion-Crow or Kestrel ;while others more sociable, such as Robins, will evencome to the open window, or actually feed fromones hand. During the winter of 1899-1900, I gave muchattention to photographing birds in the snow ; Iobtained many pictures and watched the birds habitsin what were their hard times. There is fascinatinginterest in taking careful notice of these wild birdsin their homes, and in observing what I call theirmanners and customs, especially when the littlecreatures themselves are not conscious that they are 149 ISO WOODLAND, FIELD, AND SHORE being watched. When a bird knows of our presence,it always behaves differently from what would be. the case if no one was near ; so that when naturalistsor others take their ornithological notes, or notice BIRDS IN THE SNOW 151 the habits of any wild creature, I always think thatthey should be unobserved, otherwise the behaviourof the bird or wild animal is not natural, and doesnot correctly show their everyday habits. Of coursethis remark applies to the camera; and sometimesthere is considerable difficulty in concealing from abird such a formidable-looking machine. Most ofthe pictures accompanying this chapter were obtainedin a suburban garden within the London ten-mileradius. In one corner of the grounds was a quantityof rubbish, bricks, pieces of wood, etc., and the camerawas hidden underneath, the whole being then coveredwith a la}er of frozen snow. The small openingleft for the lens was a matter of some disquietudeto a Robin, which would sit on the covering carefullyto examine it before venturing to touch
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectnatural, bookyear1901
