20 BIRDS'-NESTING. 



and by means of which he could mount to his prize 

 most advantageously. 



Another western man thinks the quickest means 

 of ascending such trees is by the use of a rope about 

 an inch and a half in diameter and six or seven feet 

 long. Pass this rope around the tree and your body, 

 and tie it so that you fit nicely between ; push the 

 rope up with you, keeping it about the middle of 

 the body. When you wish to rest, push the rope 

 up as far as possible on the opposite side of the tree 

 and sit on it. This process may work successfully 

 in some cases, but I should recommend the novice 

 to practise it thoroughly near the ground before 

 attempting loftier flights. 



It frequently happens that nests are out upon the 

 ends of branches that will not bear a man's or boy's 

 weight, and hence must be got at in some other way. 

 If such a limb is a small one, it can readily be sawed 

 off and held by the hand. I used to wear a belt-knife 

 (which, as I have already said, is exceedingly useful 

 in collecting) , the back of which was notched into a 

 saw for such emergencies. Such a tool can be made 

 easily, if it is not purchasable. In the case of larger 

 limbs, they may be prevented from falling when sawed 

 through, by having a rope attached to them and passed 

 over a strong limb above, so as to sustain their weight. 



