CHAPTER V 



A SUMMER WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES (1902) 



March \'^th. — Moved my furniture into my cottage 



here. Six horses were used to get it up the gradient 



of the last mile. Visited the fir plantation above the 



house, and found that the badgers had returned to 



their " set." They were not here a month ago when 



I was down in these parts, and the Colonel and 



myself were afraid that the tenant farmer might have 



improved them. 



March i^th. — Left my cottage for an inn in the hill 



country, reaching it about 1 1 .30. On the drive up from 



the station (Mr. Pike, my collal)orate?cr, was with me) 



we saw half a dozen Buzzards in the air together, at 



which we were much pleased. On reaching the inn 



we met the keeper, and shortly started for a certain 



place in a valley known to us, where the Raven breeds 



yearly. Close to the inn we noticed a pair of these 



birds driving off some Buzzards from their sacred 



spot, but their nest, which was in the usual spot, did 



not on examination appear to be completed. This 



struck us as rather curious, for normally Ravens 



should be " setting " by this date. A little further up 



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