344 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



When the end of the rope reached the prisoner 

 in the cave, he was afraid to entrust himself to it, 

 lest it should not be properly secured at the top. 

 As soon as my brother reached the summit of the 

 cliff, however, he found it twisted round a huge 

 boulder of rock weighing many tons, and in ad- 

 dition held by eight stalwart Irish labourers, who 

 had been called from their work to assist. 



Nests built near the tops of high isolated trees 

 are often very difficult to photograph, on account 

 of the fact that they are situated amongst slender 

 branches. That of the Carrion Crow comes under 

 this category, as the bird loves a site which com- 

 mands a good view of her surroundings in order 

 that she may have early intimation of the approach 

 of danger, and make good her escape. Another 

 feature of this bird's nest is that it is extremely 

 deep, thus preventing her eggs from rolling out 

 when the structure is roughly swayed to and fro 

 by a gale of wind, and at the same time neces- 

 sitating the photographer, who would show them 

 in a picture, getting well above it to make his 

 study. 



In the early part of March, 1896, we examined 

 an old nest belonging to this species in an^ isolated 

 tree growing in a meadow not far from where we 

 live; and as the owner had begun to clean it out 

 and repair it, amongst other things with green 

 honeysuckle, and it was very awkwardly situated 

 for photographic purposes, we removed it, thinking 

 that the bird would go to another and more suit- 

 able tree in the neighbourhood. 



Our molestation did not, however, interfere 

 with her affection for the situation, and she 

 speedily laid the foundation sticks of a new nest 

 close by where the old one had stood. The third 



