CONFESSIONS OF A BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—The correspondence referred to as prompting Major Buxton's Confessions of a Bird Photographer, in your issue of July 23rd, was initiated by me in The Times. Major Buxton claims that at least "no bird photographer can be accused of doing harm purposely," but it was rather the fruits of bird photography than the intentions of photographers that were called in question in the correspondence, and he does not suggest that the excellence of the paving stones in the pathway to Hell has altered the character of the place to which they lead.
He further claims that the number of his successes "far exceeds the disasters." Indeed, let us hope that even the most destructive of photographers can say at least as much. The question is rather whether in the case of so extremely rare breeding bird as a Marsh Harrier' we can afford to sacrifice even one nest to photography if that nest represents twenty per cent., or thirty per cent., or forty per cent, of the total number of nests in England.—! am, Sir, &c., Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1.
WILLIAM PERCY.
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