220 The Black Vulture 
Vulture took alarm and launched herself from the edge of the nest, 
my camera duly registering her in the act. 
And now began a performance which for skill, nerve, daring 
and readiness of resource I have never seen surpassed. Taking a 
100 ft. length of my Alpine rope (14 in.), Doroteo, by a skilful 
cast, hitched it over one of the small rotten-looking stumps pro- 
jecting from the trunk some 30 ft. above the ground. Holding 
one end firmly, by a neat underhand throw he caused the 
DOROTEO REACHES THE FIRST STAGE, 40 FT. FROM GROUND. 
rope already hitched overhead to run up the trunk and catch on 
a second stump some 6 ft. above the first. Then walking round and 
round the tree with the ends of the rope in either hand and carefully 
studying the shape of the stem and the relative positions of the 
stumps above, he slowly and surely, by a succession of the most 
artistic jerks and casts, caused the rope gradually to creep up the 
huge bole, like a thing of life, until it was securely looped over a 
stump, about 6 in, in length, over 48 ft. above the ground. — [| men- 
