22 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



of this Hawk. But let us watch awhile, concealed 

 in the verdant undergrowth which abounds just here, 

 and see if either of the Hawks will return. A quarter 

 of an hour passes slowly, and then a shadow is visible 

 above, the larches, and the female, a brown gliding 

 form, alights on a tree adjoining the one containing 

 the nest. After a short scrutiny to see if all is safe, 

 she flies on to the edge of the nest, where she sits 

 surveying her treasures. 



Move suddenly : with a wild scream she is off to 

 what she considers safer territory. We also leave, 

 with a hope that laziness or the denseness of the 

 timber will prevent the keeper from discovering her 

 secret. 



'Tis the third week of leafy June when we next 

 visit this nest, which we are pleased to see is still 

 safe and intact ; and now let us watch the five nearly- 

 fledged young Hawks being fed by their assiduous 

 parents. At this period of their existence they 

 require a large supply of food, and in consequence 

 the old birds take heavy toll from the Pheasant and 

 Partridge chicks : here, indeed, comes the female, 

 bearing in her talons what looks like one of the 

 former, perhaps a week or ten days old. How pleased 

 our friend " Velveteens " would be could he see her ! 

 The nest is within easy gunshot ; but we do not 

 mean killing to-day, and so all through this broiling 

 June afternoon we watch the Hawks bring supplies 

 to their rapacious brood now a Blackbird, now 

 a Finch or young Pheasant, and nearly always 

 "feather" though once the male brings in a 

 field-mouse. 



