Contraptions 



BY D1LLE 



The asking of Mr. Taylor for a little space in this 

 "new edition," wherein I could air some of my views, 

 was deliberate on my part; but he at once regained 

 the advantage by offering some space for cranks/ if I 

 could give him in return a few more "hints and con- 

 traptions" for his "Boys." 



It has been so many years since my ' ' folding ladder ' ' 

 startled the Birds, that I think it high time to again 

 unfold it. It is the best thing to-day, that I have in 

 use, and therefore deserving of a second mention. 

 Mr. John H. Flanagan, of Providence, R. I., favored 

 me with a visit this summer. He is a collector of 

 much experience and knows what eastern woods are 

 like. At first he did not think the ladder would be 

 of as much benefit on the eastern trees as on the west- 

 ern, but finally came to my view, which is, that the 

 first ten or twelve feet of a tree is the hardest, east or 

 west, and that a few stiff climbs early in the day will 

 produce more exhaustion than several miles walk. 



You can walk and you can climb, but a half day's 

 combination of "walk and climb" will get us all. So 

 the weight of the ladder, to carry, is nothing compared 

 to the saving of your strength. Ten feet long, it is of 

 light material and hinged in the center, the latest 

 edition being improved with two straight, sharp spikes, 

 attached to the legs at the bottom end and a sliding 

 bolt, with catch in the center, to keep it from shutting 

 up while in use. 



For getting on top of plum thickets, wild vine 

 growths, dead tangles, where there is nothing to climb, 

 and for very slender trees or holes in under side of an 

 old rotten stump (the West abounds in such condi- 

 tions), my little "ladder route" is the only feasible 

 one to take. 



In getting our prizes from the nest to ground we 

 have all learned it is best not to carry them down 

 personally, but to lower with line to the ground or to 

 some companion. The "carpenter's chalk line," with 

 a snap on end, still answers this purpose best, and for 

 taking care of the line a fishing reel will be found most 

 desirable. Such a line does not snag in the limbs or 

 blow with the wind, and you will recall the device for 

 computing the distance — wrappings of black linen 

 thread every two feet, with a double wrap every ten 

 feet. 



But the bucket! I never was paid for advertising 

 lard "from the tree tops," so I schemed out a little 

 collapsing bucket of my own, which can be carried up 

 in the pocket. Make a circular bottom of wood, diam- 

 eter such as to slide in and out of coat pocket; this is 

 about ordinary saucer size. A circular piece of wire, 

 same circle as bottom, for the top; and canvas tacked 

 to the bottom and stitched to the top wire for the 

 side. The handle is also a piece of pliable wire, which 

 will drop down flush with half the top rim. The one 

 I have m use is five and a half inches wide by four 

 inches high, and you will perceive it can be crushed 

 up and slipped in the pocket, like one of those patent 



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