6 THE CONDOR Vol. XVI deed. Hence, artifice, dissimulation, use of cover, and above all, inconspicuousness, are essential elements of address. 1N'ow and then, by virtue of previous knowledge of a bird's whereabouts, and good cover. one can manage to confront his subject suddenly, and swing on it in the moment of startled surprise preceding flight. But such opportunities are as rare as they are gratifying. Moreover, the difficultv of getting the focus even with a reflecting camera in that horribly brief instant of suspense makes this method a form of gambling. The ordinary way is to mark down your bird, make use of cover as far a9 you can, merely to save time, and then when it fails try direct approach. The es- Fig. 2. A PASADENA THRASHER AT LOS COI, IBRIS sential elements here are inconspicuousness of dress, avoidance of direct gaze, and extreme slowness of movement. A due consideration of these three essen- tials will sometimes yield amazing and gratifying results. These three things are, of course, three subtractions of the ordinary characteristics of man. Deliberate- ness of movement is of the utmost importance. At critical junctures a movement almost as slow as the hands of a clock will repay the effort (for effort it certain- ly is, ten times more laborious and sweat-producing than ordinary motion). Even when a bird's suspicion has been aroused, it may be diverted or allayed by dis- creet restraint. None of the bird's enemies, save the cat, moves in this fashion. The pace of the tortoise does not fit into the bird's category of dangers, and hence
