GOLD COAST 195 
any time, but when one is performing a task requiring consider- 
able physical exertion, it is almost overpowering. 
The tree was far too big round to get a hold, so as I ascended 
I had to grip an iron peg that had already been driven in, while 
knocking in another above my head. My hands were wet with 
perspiration, so I felt anything but secure, especially as I had to 
lean back considerably to use the hammer effectively. It was very 
exhausting and nerve-racking, and it took me a whole day to 
complete the job. 
During this effort I was attacked by swarms of biting black 
ants which seemed to resent the vibration caused by the hammer- 
ing. In an infuriated state they emerged from the crevices in the 
bark, inflicting painful bites all over my arms and legs, and their 
overwhelming numbers caused me many times to descend rapidly. 
When I eventually reached the first branch my arms were bleed- 
ing from scratches and were covered with swellings looking like 
a heat rash, caused by bites. 
In the branches I was greeted by a swarm of large red ants, no 
less vicious than their black friends below. They make their nests 
among the leaves and resent anything in the nature of an intru- 
sion by a human being. 
After several ascents the ants became less troublesome, so I was 
able to get on with the job of catching sunbirds. Not being able 
to use nets, I had to resort to bird-lime. Sunbirds have an uncanny 
way of detecting anything of an adhesive nature, and if by chance 
one should settle on a stick of lime, it shows great intelligence in 
dealing with the situation. It seems to know by instinct that, 
although its feet are stuck, it is no use flapping its wings or it will 
overbalance and then they too will become stuck. Keeping its 
wings closed it turns over and hangs upside down, trusting that 
its own weight will gradually pull it from the bird-lime, which 
it does if the latter is not very strong. 
To catch them, then, by this means the limed twigs must be 
small and inconspicuous, and must be easily detached from the 
tree as soon as the bird touches one. I found that the ribs of certain 
fern leaves were ideal for this purpose, being quite strong but 
hardly thicker than grass stems. These were broken into lengths 
