Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/533

Rh I saw Carrion-Crows on "The Rivals," and about Pwllheli Harbour. A pair, much agitated for the safety of a young one which could barely fly, on the seaward face of Mynydd Mawr, afforded a study in geographical distribution; for, unless the eyesight of those Crows was inferior to my own (which is not likely), they could look out that day on a land which is not inhabited by their race. On that bright clear afternoon, across the blue channel, we could just catch sight of the Wicklow mountains; and, although the Carrion-Crow is recorded as breeding sparingly in some parts of the sister island, this particular bit of Ireland is, I believe, not one of them. And to this day the words of Giraldus Cambrensis, written in the twelfth century, hold good of Ireland: "Also there are no black Crows in this country, or they are very rare; they are all parti-coloured." The Hooded Crow is, I believe, uncommon on the Welsh coast, even in winter; but I have seen a hybrid between the two forms, which was killed in Merionethshire. A pair of Ravens were wheeling about the tops of "The Rivals," uttering a few "corps," and I saw another pair round one of the headlands. A pair is also said to swell the list of birds breeding on the stupendous cliffs of Pen Cilan. The Jackdaw is one of the most noticeable birds in this part of Wales. It breeds abundantly in the cliffs, as well as about buildings, and in the villages may be seen sitting on the houses and chapels. A pair were breeding in a chimney, for bits of nesting material were sticking out of an ordinary chimney-pot, on which a Daw was perched, and the cries of the young came from within. The Rook was in fair numbers. A little flock feeding on the upper slopes of "The Rivals," and wishing to descend to the lower grounds, flew out from the mountain side until they had a clear drop below them, and then suddenly whizzed down with short zigzag flights, making a rushing sound like a rocket.

Ring-Doves did not seem to be abundant. Stock-Doves are to be found round the coast, about the cliffs and sand-hills. Neither Mr. Coward nor I met with the Turtle-Dove. The Swift is numerous. Numbers were wheeling round Trer Ceiri, or one of the summits of Yr Eifl. Possibly they breed among the mass of grey rock forming the steep ramparts on the east side. I saw them nowhere on the mountain, except just over the ancient town. One afternoon some hundreds were flying over the craggy heights