The Choice of Suitable Ropes 79 
of the half dozen that has not repeatedly cropped up during my own 
experiences, and inattention to any one may spell failure or delay or 
possible disaster. 
So much for the difference between the problems to be solved 
by the two classes—travelling naturalists and resident fishermen, 
Now as to the material. The men who make their livelihood by 
descending cliffs are equipped with all necessary gear for their 
work. There is practically no restriction for them in the matter of 
bulk and weight since they usually work within a reasonable 
distance of their homes and their ropes can in many instances be 
carried on carts. Thus they can afford to employ good stout ropes 
both for lowering the egger and for a life-line for him to hold on 
by and “lighten up” when he may require to do so. Not 
uncommonly such men have regular canvas ‘ breeches”’ or seats 
made in which they are slung. Further, to prevent the rope chafing 
as it is paid out over the cliff it is often run through a length of 
heavy leather hose-pipe or over a big wooden tray known as a 
“tortoise,” fitted with a roller and wheels. Lastly the rope itself 
is paid out round a stout crowbar firmly driven into the ground. 
Such are only some of the accessories of many of the professional 
cliff-eggers. 
Some years ago a gentleman in Ireland who had taken many 
Peregrines’ and Choughs’ nests in various cliffs showed me _ his 
equipment. It consisted of a wooden “ tortoise’ as above, a crow- 
bar, a 34 in. rope to be lowered in and a 2 in. rope to be used as 
a life-line. This was an excellent fit-out and perfectly adapted for 
the purpose, since he could convey the lot on an Irish car along 
some country road and, at the worst, have only a short distance 
for his men to take it on their shoulders to the cliff. But to the 
naturalist wandering through a wild country seeking nests, all such 
refinements are of course utterly out of the question. Weight, and 
weight alone, decides what is possible to be carried, and in all 
