WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 219 



sLimably the same pair which were driven away by 

 the Sparrows, commenced a fresh nest in the self- 

 same spot, for, as stated before, the other fell down, 

 probably because the Sparrows were too energetic 

 inside it, as when they took possession the mud 

 crust had not properly dried. I trust that these 

 window Martins will have better luck this time. 

 By the way, this species will use its wing as a 

 palette for the mud when engaged in building, as 

 I have repeatedly observed. 



June 2A^tJi. — The Cuckoo is still singing, but very 

 brokenly. Some Tree Pipits are still in fine song, 

 but generally speaking most birds are getting silent 

 now. About sunset, as I was coming down a slope, 

 up flopped a hen Nightjar some five or six yards in 

 front of me, from under a thorn-tree, as if wounded. 

 I quite expected to find young, and was surprised to 

 find instead two fresh eggs. I was surprised that this 

 bird got up so far in front of me, as generally this 

 species will sit until almost trodden on ; but it was 

 well after eight p.m., and she would of course be more 

 wide awake then than in the daytime. 



There are only two pairs of Nightjars on this slope, 

 I think, at most, though it is extensive enough to hold 

 at least half a dozen. Going through a copse, I was 

 very close to a Tawny Owl and her Owlets, not long 

 out of the nest, judging from the bird's solicitude. 



June 26th. — Saw a Heron being mobbed by a 

 Buzzard — quite an unusual state of things. Coming- 

 home, in the railwa)' embankment I found a Yellow- 

 Bunting's unfinished nest and a Partridge's with eight 

 esfSfs. 



