264 The Osprey 
was able to take some long time-exposures with fairly good results. 
It was near sunset and the cliff was in deep shadow, which did 
not facilitate my task. Between the shaly nature of the cliff, the 
slippery terraces covered with loose soil and stones and_ the 
detestable prickly pears, I never had a more unpleasant or arduous 
task en a cliff before. But I have lived to endure worse experiences, 
although not so painfully protracted as were these. 
My very curt entry in my diary summarizes the whole job 
thus: ‘Bad shale cliffs, vertical and dangerous, height of nest 
above sea 160 ft. Top of cliff 310 ft., the worst managed bit of 
rope-work I ever did.” 
With regard to the prickly pears, it was many months before 
the last of the poisonous spines I had collected in various parts of 
my body consented to come out, and then only after first festering. 
Such are my experiences of Osprey photography! Still I am 
quite prepared to hear some brother worker assert that he usually 
visits Osprey’s nests in places where one can trundle a wheel- 
barrow ! 
