198 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



very little thick heather, and in consequence, the 

 nests being made in very exposed situations, fall 

 a prey to Crows and suchlike evil-doers. I had 

 another great hunt for the Tlover's nest, but once 

 again was baffled, and my search only revealed a 

 couple of Lapwing's habitations, with four and two 

 eggs respectively, the latter set being addle. It 

 hailed abominably and the cold was intense. I heard 

 a Snipe " bleating " somewhere, but could not find 

 his nest. Towards evening, after my return, I wended 

 my way to the line and found a Pied Wagtail's nest 

 in the same rocks as the Grey Wagtails. Just 

 opposite a farm-house bordering the railway I watched 

 a male Butcher Bird for a considerable time. At 

 last I saw him catch a beetle, flying on to the metals 

 for it, and take it to a hedge aligning the embank- 

 ment. I at once knew that he was feeding a sitting 

 mate, for his larder was in a hedge the other side of 

 the line ; so proceeding to the spot, I soon flushed 

 the hen from her six eggs, which were of the green 

 type. Three days ago a pair of House-martins 

 started a nest under the eaves of my house, but they 

 do not appear to be making much progress. This is 

 rather a late date for them to start operations, though 

 you will seldom find this species' egg before the last 

 week of May or beginning of June. This Martin's 

 eggs can be readily confused with the Sand-martin's, 

 but they are constantly larger and have a decided 

 gloss, which is absent from those of the latter. Of 

 course at the nest there is no possible chance of 

 confusion. 

 June 8///. — I see that an accident has happened to 



