54 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



eyrie, built in a spot quite inaccessible without the 

 aid of a rope. We fear that there has been foul work 

 here, for we see but one Raven, and he seems in no 

 way disconcerted at our presence ; further we find 

 what must be Raven's feathers on the rocks beneath, 

 and these appear to bear shot marks on the shafts. 

 Here too we nearly come to terrible grief, as whilst 

 leaning well over the cliff, endeavouring to peer into 

 the nest below, the keeper, who is holding us back 

 by the ankles, begins to slip, for there has been much 

 rain recently and the ground is sloping. In spite of 

 the dangerous situation, the keeper's remark of" Now 

 we sha'n't be long " tickles us immensely, but fortu- 

 nately we are able to pull ourselves up in time to 

 avert a fearful calamity. 



Next morning, before leaving these charming 

 Welsh hills, we " photo " the Raven's nest which we 

 found )'esterday, but the afternoon sees us en route 

 for the busy world, after a most satisfactory and 

 enjoyable visit to the Raven in Wales. 



Note. — We are informed that there wevefive young 

 Kites in the nest which was robbed on the Sunday 

 above mentioned. If such was the case, it must be 

 of extremely rare occurrence, for two or three is the 

 usual complement of eggs. 



