20 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



of prey, but the woods are his stronghold, and there 

 often enough have we been startled by one dashing 

 past us, almost within arm's length, whilst to see one 

 thread its way through a thick belt of trees with 

 incredible velocity is a sight not easily forgotten by 

 a lover of Nature. 



Tis the beginning of May : we are strolling up one 

 of the velvety glades of a wood, when our attention is 

 arrested by a little heap of feathers those of a 

 Thrush marking the site of a woodland tragedy, and 

 clearly the work of a Sparrow-hawk. 



Dark and sombre firs, intermingled with the 

 brighter green of the larch, now out in all its 

 summer finery, here join the oaks and hazels. 

 Leaving the beaten track, we advance cautiously 

 over the soft carpet of fir needles. Our caution, 

 however, is wasted, for a Jay, most cunning of all 

 the feathered throng, has viewed us, and makes the 

 wood ring again with his harsh " rark, rark," Startled 

 Ring Doves dash out of the firs on all sides, with 

 loud flappings, leaving their two spotless white eggs 

 reposing on the frail basket work of twigs. In many 

 of the trees old nests are visible, those of the Wood- 

 pigeon and Squirrel predominating. In one tree we 

 have the good fortune to come across a family party 

 of Long-eared Owls : these are already fledged, and 

 are sitting in line on a horizontal fir branch. After 

 a short scrutiny of these we continue our search, and 

 soon find a large nest, which we pronounce to be the 

 home of a Sparrow-hawk. To make certain, however, 

 out with the glasses, for it is some way above us. Yes, 

 it is the real article, as we can plainly see pieces of 



