32 Travel and Equipment 
one in our war balloons. But I am no believer in the popular 
‘‘sportsman’s” clasp-knives containing every possible and impos- 
sible weapon, apparently designed to remove sections of skin and 
to excavate holes in one’s hands if one attempts to do a tough 
bit of cutting. If a man wants to carry a corkscrew, small blade, 
cartridge -extractor or other tools, by all means let him have 
them in a small metal knife of the type popularly known as the 
‘“drunkard’s companion”; I regret I do not know its official de- 
scription. This, he can carry on a swivel on his belt as well as 
a small sheath-knife. The latter is invaluable for all nesting pur- 
poses, whether to clear away scrub on cliff, branches in a tree 
or to cut a lane through high reeds in a marsh. 
The springs of all swivels should be double-rivetted, else the 
day comes when they slip and one’s knife is lost. I always have 
several swivels on my belt, to facilitate carrying a camera, egg-box 
or such bulky objects, which, when slung over the shoulder are 
apt to get in the way. By clipping them on to the belt with a 
double swivel this is entirely obviated. 
(3) Motebook and Pencil. 
No naturalist, traveller or explorer can do without a notebook. 
One which will slip easily into one’s pistol (or hip) pocket is a good 
size, say about 6 in. by 3 in. Pages should be prepared on which 
to keep a record of photographs taken, showing subject, aperture, 
speed &c. 
(4) Freld-glasses, Telescope and Compass. 
For bird-watching, especially birds on the wing which it is 
required to trace to their nests, a good pair of ordinary binoculars 
is essential. For all-round work they are infinitely superior to any 
of the prism glasses since they can be used at all hours of the day 
and in all lights. They must have a fair-sized field, so as to make 
