xvi BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



again, and whilst the artist held the camera on to 

 the tripod, and the author, from a more secure 

 footing, held the artist by the coat-tails on to the 

 Craig, the picture was obtained, which I venture 

 to think amply rewards us for our trouble. 



The members of an eminent Northern natural 

 history society visited the Craig about a fortnight 

 afterwards for the same purpose, and, from the 

 insurmountable character of the difficulties which 

 presented themselves, had to return empty-handed. 

 Nobody who has essayed the same task will much 

 blame them. 



The Kestrel's nest was situated on the stump 

 of a tree growing at right angles from a cleft in 

 a Highland " scar," and, as may be judged, was 

 in an exceedingly awkward situation to photograph. 

 However, by the kindly assistance of a gamekeeper 

 and a strong rope, my brother and his camera w T ere 

 lowered on to the stump, sitting astride of which 

 he lashed his apparatus thereto and exposed four 

 plates, every one of which turned out a failure on 

 account of the close range, snowy whiteness of 

 the uneasy little birds, and the blackness of the 

 background. We were obliged to do the whole thing 

 over again, and after a series of experiments managed 

 to secure the photograph from which our illustration 

 has been reproduced. 



In 1894 we were unable to land upon the Meg- 

 stone Rock at the Fame Islands, for the purpose 

 of securing a picture of the Cormorants' nests, 

 on account of the dangerous swell running at the 

 time. This year we went considerably out of our 



