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A VISIT TO THE BIED EOCK (" CEAIG-Y-DEEYN "), 

 TOWYN, NOETH WALES. 



[By E. Cambridge Phillips, F.L.S., M.B.O.U., M.P.I.O.C] 



It was the 26th of July, in the Jubilee year ; an accident had temporarily laid me 

 up, but a fortnight at that healthy, but quiet little village of Borth, Cardigan- 

 shire, with its comfortable hotel, and best of all, its pure sea-breezes wafted 

 straight over the Atlantic, had nearly made me all right again. Borth itself is 

 singularly destitute of bird-life, the sea being usually very rough, and there is no 

 feeding-ground — nothing but beautiful sands three miles in length. On our right 

 we approach Ynyslas and the estuary of the Dovey, the muddy flats of which teem 

 with shore-birds, and run nearly up to the prettUy-situated town of Machynlleth. 

 On the opposite side of the mouth of the estuary is Aberdovey, an excellent place 

 for anyone wishing to explore that long extent of muddy flats I have before 

 alluded to. Past the mouth of the Dovey, in Cardigan Bay, is Towyn, easily 

 distinguishable from Borth, and as in the evening I could often see small strings 

 of Cormorants (Graculus carbo), heading towards Towyn, and, on enquiry, found 

 they were returning to Craig-y-Deryn, their breeding-place, I determined to pay 

 it a visit. 



Starting by train from Borth, we ran along the estuary of the Dovey until 

 we came to Aberdovey Junction. The tide being out, there were plenty of birds 

 on the flats, principally Curlews, Gulls, and Plovers, the Black-headed Gull being 

 especially numerous ; and on nearing the Junction, a couple of Sheldrakes, with 

 five or six little ones, were calmly waddling along the mud. Changing at 

 Aberdovey Junction, and crossing the Dovey, a pleasant ride on the opposite, 

 but more rocky, side of the estuary, past Aberdovey, landed us at last at Towyn, 

 where, however, we were still a long way from the object of our journey. 



Acting on advice given us before starting, we took the little slate-railway 

 from Towyn to Abergwynolwyn, a distance of about five miles through most 

 charming scenery, and on alighting at Abergwynolwyn we found some difficulty in 

 getting a trap of any sort, but a few words in Welsh from my wife soon jirocured 

 us an excellent tea in the small but clean village inn, and a capital pony and trap, 

 and at last we were nearing the Bird Rock. To anyone without nerves the drive 

 would have been delightful, but with two wheels and a most dangerous road, 

 after many twistings, I was thankful when we reached a large valley opening to 

 the sea, at the mouth of which is Towyn, and turning to the left we pulled up 

 close under a large rock, "Craig-y-Deryn" (the Bird Rock). This rock stands 

 boldly out, a most conspicuous object on the left-hand side of the valley looking 

 down towards Towyn, and is precipitous on the two sides jutting out into the 

 valley : but its top may be reached by walking over the hill from the valley 

 behind it. These two sides, like a miniature Gibraltar, are nearly perpendicular, 

 and it is on the ledges of the side facing towards Cader Idris that the Cormorant 



