10 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
the bird would emerge, so we ranged ourselves along the crest of the cliff (Mr. 
V’s son Benjamin and my son William accompanying), while our guide pro- 
ceeded to make diabolical noises with a “contraption” rigged up for the pur- 
pose. Nothing happened for a long time, but finally from some invisible por- 
tion of the undercut cliff beneath our feet, a dark form flashed downward, and 
glided, with strong wing-motion, close to the surface and straight out to sea. 
It was a Black Swift undoubtedly; but what extraordinary behavior for a land 
bird! With 8-power binoculars I watched it out of sight. Then we drove a 
steel pin, shook out a rope ladder which did not quite reach the bottom of 
the 65-foot declivity, and set about the systematic search of the under-cut sea- 
wall. An hour later Y. announced his success, and I hastened down to view 
the treasure — a great white egg, evidently fresh, but somewhat discolored by 
Fig. 6. Vrooman at the Swift’s Nest 
contact with the moist floor of a clinging root-lashed earthen bracket, from 
the edges of which wiry green grass grew luxuriantly. I had barely re-ascend- 
ed when a shout apprised us of the approach of the recreant bird. She came 
winging splendidly over the water, rose with a sweep toward the nest, saw the 
swinging ladder liard-by, and swerved sharply. Before we could relieve the 
situation she had feinted several times and even lighted for a moment on a 
neighboring cornice ; then retired. Hurriedly drawing up the ladder and 
hastening to a point of vantage, we threw ourselves upon the ground and had 
the satisfaction of seeing her, a moment later, sweep back and settle upon the 
nest. The whole situation was as plain as day, but the grasses of the earthen 
cornice invested the sitting bird so closely that telephotography was out of 
the question. I could only choose a water-background, therefore, and set my 
