Page:Condor3(2).djvu/15

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Mar., ?9o1 I A flawking I:xpedition. THE CON I)OR N APRIL I6, I9OO , Prof, L. T. Merwin, Mr. Elmer Bickford and the writer journeyed to the hills east of Napa City to photograph and collect a set of Western Redtail (Buleo b. calurzts) which Mr. Merwin had located two days before. The nest was situated in the face of a cliff ab6ut 60 feet from the base and twenty feet from the top, and was corn- 43 long stick. The accompanying illustra- tion will explain how it was done. Mr. Merwin, partly suspended upon the rope seen in the picture, handled the net and tightly hugged the cliff as he passed it around behind him within reach of the writer whose rear elevation is decidedly conspicuous. It is to be regretted that Mr. Merwin does not ap- pear in the picture for he has a cheerful countenance. Mr. Bic. kford, ever alert for the Photo by Elmer tqickford. COLLECTING HAWKS' F?GGS UNDER DIFFICULTIES. posed almost entirely of oak sticks and txvigs, with a few pieces of tree moss or- namenting the outside. The eggs, three in number, were nearly ready to h?tch, but were successfully p. repared for the cabinet nevertheless. The task of removing the eggs from the nest was alloted to Mr. Merwin by common consent? because he is at once agil, e, "reachv" and .willing. The nest Was inaccessible to the unakled hand so we used a small net at the end of a novel and picturesque, immortalized the scene by the aid of his faithful. cam- era and it is by his kindness that we are able to present the photograph. The shrubbery in the foreground is growing from crevices in the rock and gives the picture a certain tame effect, when in fact the shrubs are 60 feet from the base of the cliff. The hills in the background are a part of the Iow?range extending in an easterly direction from the Napa water-