Some Useful Articles 29 
thankful that I am not—as so many of my friends kindly suggest— 
under canvas. 
In no sport or pastime, art or science, call it what you will, 
is it more necessary to have exactly the right gear at hand and 
at the right moment than in birdsnesting, more especially when 
climbing is required. 
To ensure a successful day’s work, or, at any rate, one which 
may not be marred by the absence of some absolutely essential 
article, it is necessary to keep a list of what is required. Everybody 
will have his own ideas as to what to take but the following are 
my own, of which I keep a copy in my notebook and also one 
writ large in charcoal on the walls of my dwelling. 
Worn or carried on person :—- 
(1) Aneroid, watch, silk rope and whistle. 
(2) Hunting belt, swivels and knives. 
(3) Notebook and pencil. 
(4) Field-glasses, telescope and compass. 
(5) Sketchbook and small hand camera. 
Carried by assistants or on pack animals :— 
(1) Ropes, canvas sling, casting-line and weight. 
(2) Egg-boxes, cotton wool and egg-blowing implements. 
(3) Traps (when required). 
(4) Rope-soled boots, guernsey and waterproof. 
(5) Photographic apparatus. 
(6) Fishing-creel, with food, water-bottle and drinking cups. 
I am quite aware that the list is a formidable one, but long years 
at the work have taught me how absolutely necessary most of the 
articles are and, further, how greatly the presence of others add 
to the interest of a day’s work, more especially in a wild and 
unmapped country. 
I shall now deal with each article separately in order that every 
reader may judge for himself whether he can dispense with it or not, 
citing examples how and when I have found it useful. 
