242 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



saunter along than be in too much of a hurry. Far 

 more is seen by the quiet observer than the man who 

 dashes along. We must say, however, that in very 

 wild, rugged tramps over the hills and moors we 

 prefer a companion — for, to say the least of it, it is 

 awkward to be perhaps from five to ten miles from 

 the nearest succour should a sprained ankle or any 

 other calamity befall one. Many such a wild ramble 

 have we had with a certain keeper of our acquaint- 

 ance, a capital fellow, nor must we forget to say that 

 we are indebted to him for much information, for as 

 far as local birds go it would be hard to find a more 

 competent observer. A fearless cragsman and 

 splendid walker, with an eye like a hawk's, he is one 

 of the best fellows we know of — for a tramp. He 

 once saw a Raven stoop at and kill a Kestrel which 

 ventured too close to its eyrie, and on another occa- 

 sion he caught a Kestrel on her eggs, coming silently 

 round a bend of the rocks. Of course he knew of 

 the nest beforehand. Here the Raven and Buzzard 

 flourish, as they must have done centuries ago, nume- 

 rous Kestrels gladden the eye, whilst Owls, too, 

 are conspicuous, though not so plentiful up in these 

 mountain solitudes as in the better wooded valleys. 

 Altogether it is an ideal spot for the naturalist. 



The delicate little Pied Flycatcher is far from being 

 rare in certain favoured parts of Wales ; but even 

 here it is much overlooked. As a rule, it is a bird of 

 very secluded habits, frequenting the rotten birches 

 and alders fringing the fast-flowing hill streams ; 

 indeed, you will seldom find it far from water. How- 

 ever, last summer we heard of a nest of this species 



