84 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



tree-climbing days, was the height of my ambition ; it 

 was a red-letter day when I could add a new bird to the 

 list. And how often, when on such excursions, would 

 inaccessible nests be found. How often have I vainly 

 attempted to climb some neighboring tree, that I might 

 look down upon the contents of a nest far out of reach. 

 It was a satisfaction to verify the statements made in the 

 books, although there was no reason to doubt them. At 

 such a time one longs for the surely coming days of aerial 

 locomotion, although it will be a sorry time for many a 

 timid fly-catcher, now living in remote tree-tops, when, 

 with a balloon in one hand, we can sail above the topmost 

 branches and inspect the contents of what now are usu- 

 ally inaccessible nests. The sight of such nests and a 

 glimpse of the builders is really all that one needs ; to 

 shoot the birds that they may be identified is an abomi- 

 nation ; but it takes years often to overcome the mania 

 for tree-top scrambles. Every naturalist must at least 

 risk life and limb once in his time, although others have 

 done so suflBciently often to settle every important point 

 in North American oology. Happily one desperate ad- 

 venture sometimes cures — as it did me. 



A few years ago, in one of the big elms at the " bend " 

 in Poaetquissings, far out over the water, was the nest 

 of a yellow-throated vireo. I contemplated that nest 

 for half a day. I dreamed of it that night. Have it I 

 must, and, telling no one — another proof of insanity — I 

 went alone to the quiet corner of the creek. To reach 

 the nest I must not only climb the tree to a considerable 

 height, but must then creep along an overarching limb, 

 with no supporting branches near. Once tliere, the 



