Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/477

Rh small colony of Guillemots and Razorbills, the species being in almost equal numbers; in another place a few Razorbills were breeding in horizontal fissures, but we failed to detect any Guillemots there. The Herring-Gull was the dominant Gull in this district; mature and immature birds were common in the Straits, where the only other member of the family that we observed was the Black-headed Gull. Some of the colonies of Herring-Gulls on the cliffs numbered hundreds of pairs, and in one place there was a fair admixture of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. We saw many Cormorants fishing in the Straits and on the inland lakes, and along the coast birds were constantly passing between their feeding-grounds and a precipitous cliff where a large number were nesting.

Of birds of prey, we noticed several nesting Kestrels, and one or two Merlins; and at one spot a pair of Peregrines had their eyrie. Whenever we passed the place the falcon, and sometimes the tiercel, flew out, wheeling in circles above the sea, barking fiercely "hek hek hek." Again and again the falcon would stoop, as if in sport, at the Herring-Gulls which were passing along the cliff to their nesting-places, sweeping up again just before she reached them. The Gulls always swerved a little from their course when the falcon was all but on them, uttering a short single frightened scream. A Kestrel, on the other hand, which was nesting in a disused Carrion-Crow's nest, several times hovered over and stooped at the Peregrine, which merely swerved aside and made no attempt to retaliate. The Kestrel was not uncommon inland, but we only met with the Sparrow-Hawk once—at Gaerwen, where a male was gibbeted in a keeper's museum, along with a couple of Stoats and eighteen Weasels.

There were several large colonies of Jackdaws along these cliffs, and a few pairs of Carrion-Crows were scattered here and there. At one place we came upon a pair of Ravens in attendance on a brood of young which had not long left the nest. As at Penmon, the Meadow-Pipit was not uncommon, and the Rock-Pipit was feeding young in many places early in June. The tangle-covered débris at the foot of the cliffs provided a feeding-ground at low-water for many Oystercatchers and a few Sheld-Ducks. It was evident from their excited behaviour that some