WITH THE RAVENS IN WALES 49 



nest, built behind an oak sapling growing from the 

 cliffside. This contains two whole eggs and a 

 broken one : apparently a stone has been dislodged 

 higher up the rocks and done this damage ; indeed, 

 we think we see traces of that source of misadventure. 

 Or can some evil-minded shepherd have dropped a 

 missile into the nest ? The eggs, though well-coloured, 

 are very small, even for a Raven, which, in comparison 

 to its size, always lays a remarkably diminutive egg. 

 These are certainly no bigger than a Rook's, though 

 perhaps a trifle longer. About one hundred and fifty 

 yards further on a fresh nest is being built, as few 

 birds care for a broken egg in their dwellings ; in fact, 

 there is no surer way of making a bird desert than 

 by breaking an egg inside the nest. On our way 

 home we hear the plaintive but pleasing note of a 

 Golden Plover ; so one bird at least of this species 

 has returned to the hill country, the exact date being 

 March I5th. The majority, however, will not be here 

 till a month later. 



The following day we all set out for a wood, where 

 a pair of Kites attempted to rear a brood some four 

 or five years back ; and indeed they would have 

 done so, but one Sunday, when the young Kites were 

 nearly ready to fly, some good-for-nothing fellows, 

 mouching about, came across the nest and promptly 

 looted it. The Kites have not bred there since. 

 The pity of it ! 



Monday, March I7th, dawns as fair a March day 

 as one can wish for, and with full kit of ropes, crow- 

 bar, and camera we start for the first Raven's nest, 

 which we found a few days back, intending, if 

 5 



