165 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



The ornithological observations of the day were singularly rich — and to orni- 

 thology the Club is turning this year with all its energy. On crossing the mount- 

 ain, three nests with eggs were found of the titlark, or meadow pipit, Anthus 

 pratensis. They were placed on the ground in the low tufts of heather, in which 

 this bird delights to build. The Cwm-yoy rocks were well scanned for the rare 

 birds that build there ; some pigeons were quickly flying in and out, but the dis- 

 tance was too great to discern clearly whether they were the true rock dove (Col- 

 umba livia) which is known to build there. Not a hawk was seen, nor was a 

 raven visible. They both breed here, and a native said the ravens had done so 

 this year, and he has seen the young birds many times. Not a croak, the unmis- 

 takeable croak ! could be heard, though, ill-omened as poets make it, it would 

 have gladdened the hearts of some of the naturalists present to have heard it. A 

 numerous colony of jackdaws were very busy with merry interjectional conversa- 

 tion. The ring ousel. Tardus torquatus, was also looked for in vain, but later in the 

 day a nest with four eggs in it was exhibited by Mr. James W. Lloyd, which had 

 been taken in the valley higher up. The construction of the nest itself and the 

 size and colour of the eggs all closely resembled thi>se of its congener, the com- 

 m(ra blackbird. This nest was taken from a rock above the bed of a stream, and 

 it was pleasantly ornamented by some plants of the pretty sorrell, Oxalis acetosella, 

 in full lilossoni by its side. 



Another e.\tremely interesting ornithological sight was the pigeon house, Tre- 

 wyn. This is said to have been built by the Knights Templar, and to be similar 

 to the one at Garway. In ol len days it carried the manorial right of dovecot, 

 the right which became so obnoxious in France as le droit de colombier. It is oc- 

 tagonal externally, but made round within, and has no less than 831 holes for the 

 pigeons' nests— every one of which can be readily examined by means of a revolv- 

 ing ladder attached to an upright beam in the centre. The ladder is so well 

 balanced that the whole circuit of the house can be made by anyone upon it, 

 without the necessity of coming down. 



BOTANY. 



The botanical discoveries of the day were not numerous. On one spot in the 

 ascent to the camp. Dr. Wood met with several plants of the little " Bird's Foot," 

 Ornit/iopus perpusillus, a local plant, and one not common in Herefordshire. The 

 Crow-berry, Empetrum nigrum, was there, but like the Bilberry and Heather was 

 not in flower. The wet places near the springs on the mountain were beautifully 

 coloured by masses of the pretty mosses Philonotis fnntana, and Rypnum fllici- 

 num, contrasting well with the deep green of the growing liverworts. Near Cwm- 

 yoy, were many bushes of the Bird Cherry, Prunus padus, in blossom — a tree 

 which should be grown in shrubberies much more frequently than it is. 



" The light Bird Cherry hangs its flag, 

 In snowy splendour from the crag," 



