PHOTOGRAPHY OF REPTILES.
It is unfortunate that reptiles are still con sidered loathsome and horrible creatures by a large majority of people, for many snakes and lizards are most graceful creatures, extremely beautiful in coloration, and altogether most satisfactory models. Reptiles are in most cases not nearly so difficult to photograph as might generally be expected, and are really very interesting subjects. They are rather shy, nervous creatures, and therefore require careful attention, if satisfactory life studies are to be obtained. Lizards delight to bask in the warm sunshine, and very fine photographs showing them enjoying a sun bath can be fairly easily obtained. The resting lizard must however be approached with great caution, for a sudden noise or a shadow is quite sufficient to send it darting with lightning rapidity down sonic crack or cranny in the rocks. Snakes in the
same way will dart away through the grass if disturbed, and the rapidity with which they travel when alarmed is astonishing and disconcerting to the photographer. Frogs and toads are particularly interesting and amusing for photographing, and are subjects which can be treated in quite a number of different ways. Very effective photographs showing how frogs, newts, etc., swim, can be obtained with the aid of a small aquarium. The outfit required for photographing reptiles is practically the same as that used for animal work. Many snakes and lizards are very beau tifully coloured, and therefore it is most desirable when photographing them to use orthochromatic plates, so that an approximately truthful rendering of the colours may be ob. tamed.