WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 193 



nest as having been robbed, as we all thought, by a 

 sheep-dog ; but this is by no means certain. Close 

 to this eyrie they found a Grouse's nest with one 

 addle egg and another containing a dead chick. 

 Then, proceeding to the Black Crags, they pictured 

 the Buzzard's nest there, which also had two eggs 

 with no special beauty about them. Further on 

 toward D., quite the highest mountain in these parts, 

 they watched a Golden Plover for some time — two 

 hours, in fact — but could not find the nest. 



They reported, apropos of a Kite's nest that they 

 had found built in a little belt of trees, principally 

 oak, that the young Kites had flown, as was clearly 

 indicated by the state of the nest ; and further the 

 farmer here had said that they flew last year, which 

 is news indeed. Pike brought some pellets from the 

 nest, as well as a piece of packing-thread about a 

 yard long. This nest was composed of branches and 

 sticks, lined principally with lamb's wool. Last year's 

 nest was in an adjoining tree. The farmer stated 

 that he had seen the old and young Kites together 

 in the air, which must have been a sight worth going 

 miles to see. There can be no doubt, I think, that 

 this pair of Kites is the same which have for many 

 years tried to rear a brood, but unsuccessfully, in a 

 valley some three miles distant ; and probably the 

 young that flew last year were the second attempt, 

 for the first clutch of eggs had been taken. The 

 Kites, then, must have shifted quarters for a second 

 venture, and having brought off their brood in safety, 

 thought that the place in question would be far better 

 than the spot where they were continually robbed. 



14 



