210 LOCAL JOTTINGS. 



see to advantage the Wood-pigeon/ Creeper^ Titmouse^ and Whitethroat. Creeping 

 stealthily along until you come within sight of the topmost branches of a wide- 

 spreading bcech^ you may gain a sight of a fine Wood-pigeon, or Quiest, (as 

 it is called hereabouts,) the metallic colours of his breast flashing in the sun 

 as he alternately preens both sides of his person; if you should cause by 

 accident the very smallest stick to crack, he is erect in an instant, and ere 

 another passes, he is off to some other secluded situation. 



If I were to go on describing the various woods, hills, dales, brooks, etc., 

 which are adjacent to this pretty place, I am sadly afraid I should be mo- 

 nopolising too great a portion of the interesting pages of ^'The Naturalist;" 

 I will therefore content myself for the present with the foregoing description of 

 the chief places of resort of the various kinds of birds which frequent this 

 part of North Wales. I have been induced to describe the locality of the 

 said hills and plantations for the good reason, that I now intend from the 

 present time, to accept the office of Ornithological Biographer for this neigh- 

 bourhood, and in so doing I shall oftentimes have to make mention of the 

 said localities, in connexion with the habits of many of our birds; and I 

 believe it to be the duty of every person situated as I am, in the very 

 midst of a country abounding in nearly all the species of the feathered tribes 

 frequenting the British Isles, (of course excepting sea-birds,) to lay before 

 the public, and those not having an opportunity of visiting such places, a 

 true and faithful account of the goings on of those pretty creatures, whose 

 habits and instinct cannot but manifest to the attentive observer, the wisdom 

 and goodness of the Great Creator. 

 To begin then with the Raven: — ■ 



I notice a pair of these birds frequently during the summer and autumn 

 about the Town Hill, and I sometimes see a third in company. They come 

 I believe from Kerry Hill, a wild barren mountain track, about five miles 

 from hence, where they breed unmolested. These birds are becoming very 

 scarce hereabouts, in consequence of the prejudice existing against them among 

 the fiirmers, who declare that they frequently destroy the young lambs by . 

 picking out their eyes. I have not the slightest doubt they are looking out 

 for such like dainty morsels among the sheep on the Town Hill, when I 

 observe them in that situation, I notice when the pair are in full flight, 

 that one keeps in advance of the other, in line, about twelve yards or so, 

 giving about every eight seconds the loud peculiar croak. On a fine calm 

 day you may hear this croak before the birds actually come within sight. 



They breed also on a mountain called ^'Corndon," about seven miles from 

 here. It was on this mountain, some six or seven years ago, that some boys 

 procured a young Eaven, and having brought it to INIontgomery, they dipt 

 his winss, and christened him "Rafo." After a year had passed, the bird's 

 wino« were allowed to attain their mature plumage, and "Rafo" thinking that 

 exercise was necessary for his health, made two or three cruises per diem in 

 the immediate neighbourhood, always returning to his home for the night. 



