WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 101 



early breeder. Shortly after this, just as we were 

 leaving the wood, we found a Buzzard's nest in a large 

 oak. Just under this tree, and suspended from a hazel- 

 bush, -was a dead Jackdaw, so evidently some evil- 

 minded wretch had been trying, but clumsily, to 

 poison the large Hawks. On climbing up I found the 

 nest built on a flat, overhanging bough, some forty 

 feet from the ground. In it was a dead mole. It 

 was lined freshly with green ivy leaves, but otherwise 

 was an ancient nest, being of large size, and some of 

 its sticks bleached with age. Then to the Heron 

 wood, hearing the mewing cry of the Buzzards the 

 while. We saw five Herons leave their nests, and 

 found traces of a Sparrow-hawk's murderous work in 

 the feathers of a Blackbird. The Buzzards had 

 another nest in this wood, and some one had been 

 up to it with climbing irons, as we could plainly see ; 

 but it was too early for them to have got eggs, so we 

 felt somewhat relieved in spirit. This nest was also 

 lined with fresh green ivy leaves, and some mole "fur 

 was in it as well. It seemed quite a new nest, as the 

 sticks were quite fresh ; and, if undisturbed, the 

 Buzzards will surely lay here. A pair of Magpies 

 are building their domed nest close to the Heronry. 

 Maybe they have done this so as to be in touch with 

 the Herons' eggs. Their nest, almost ready for eggs, 

 in addition to the usual lining of fibrous roots, con- 

 tained some horsehair, which is unusual. We also 

 found a Sparrow-hawk's nest being built. 



Coming back we examined a little brook, running 

 under the railway, and here in a hole in the masonry 

 of the arch soon found a Dipper's nest containing 



