Old White Wing 277 



the ravine. My observations for the day proved to 

 me that he had a definite route, and that he remained 

 away from home from an hour to an hour and a 

 half. During this time I could explore the ravine 

 and return to my hiding place without disturbing 

 him. After three days of the most careful searching, 

 I located a crow's nest in a thick cluster of hemlocks 

 on the right bank far up the small ravine. It was 

 well protected, and through my field-glass I saw a 

 crow on the nest. I searched for a new hiding place 

 which would give me a good view of the nest and, 

 at the same time, not reveal my presence to the birds. 

 I found precisely what I wanted in an old basswood 

 tree. Large ones are often hollow, being mere shells, 

 the hollows sometimes extending up the tree for a 

 distance of from ten to forty feet. A tree of this 

 description stood on the bank of the ravine opposite 

 the nest, and about one hundred and fifty feet from it. 

 As the entrance to the hollow was on the side opposite 

 the nest, I could approach from that direction without 

 being seen by the birds. When I stood on the ground 

 the underbrush at the foot of the tree prevented me 

 from seeing into the nest, but, if I could erect a sup- 

 port ten feet high and bore a hole for inspection 

 through the shell of the trunk, the problem would be 

 solved, and I could watch what few people have had 



