Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/165

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staying in Wales last May (1900) I paid a short visit to Lleyn, while the gorse blossom was in its glory, the high turf banks still studded with primroses, and the plantations in their tenderest green, and often blue underfoot with bluebells. But during my stay Lleyn was wind-swept even more than it usually is, strong N. and N.N.E. winds only giving way (with about twelve hours interval) to half a gale from S.W.Some luxuriant hanging woods near the foot of Rhiw, at the north-west corner of Hell's Mouth, skirted by about the longest and steepest hill-road I ever saw in this country, was so wind-tossed that I gave up the attempt to listen for Warblers, though the strong song of the Chaffinch rang out from time to time. This state of the weather naturally interfered with my pursuits to some extent. But as it did not prevent me from hearing almost all the small birds I had previously noticed, I do not think it would have hindered me from observing those woodland species of which I was especially in search had they been present. The plantations at Nanhoran were indeed, from their position, fairly well sheltered. But though Wood-Wrens, Willow-Wrens, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, Chaffinches, &c., were almost constantly in song about the edges of the belts of wood, I could not find the birds I was looking for. The Green Woodpecker was noticed again—on four occasions—and I think may be considered fairly common; but I have not yet identified the Pied Woodpecker, which I have seen in the Merionethshire woods. I again failed to see or hear (in the western part of Lleyn) the Redstart, Blackcap, Garden-Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Ray's Wagtail, Nuthatch, and Lesser Whitethroat. With regard to the last-named bird, I think Mr. T.A. Coward's nest may have belonged to a pair which had accidentally wandered to the district (vide 'Zoologist,'