SOME RARE BIRDS 233 



course with greatest precision. Just now he and his 

 mate have a hungry brood to forage for, and very 

 assiduous they are in their duty. Their moss-built 

 nest, wedged in an angle formed by two foam- 

 flecked rocks, harmonises wonderfully with them ; 

 and by the inexperienced eye is seen with difficulty. 



A Grey Wagtail passes overhead volatu zindoso, 

 doubtless on his way to a " setting " mate ; and from 

 those beetling slate-stone crags on our left the 

 hoarse barking " qualme " of an angry Raven is 

 heard. Here, then, at least one pair of our dusky 

 friends have survived another winter, and having 

 braved all foes successfully, are now engaged in 

 bringing up a promising brood. 



Scale the rocks and visit the eyrie : climb care- 

 fully ; for the slate is treacherous in the extreme 

 and facilis descensus averno and its sequel may be 

 ours. At last we reach a ledge from which the 

 interior of the nest is visible — nearer than this we 

 cannot get without the aid of ropes, but nevertheless 

 a splendid view is obtained. The nest, a huge 

 structure of sticks and heather branches, lined 

 copiously with wool and fur, the exterior freely 

 whitewashed, making it conspicuous from some 

 distance, contains three, no, four well-grown Ravens, 

 and we look down into the intense pinkish red of 

 their expectant mouths, a hue which contrasts 

 admirably with the gloomy grey surroundings — a 

 dash of colour in a monotonous environment. Both 

 old birds are now on view, in their displeasure tearing 

 off the smaller branches and shoots of yon mountain- 

 ash. They dare not come close, but they would be 



