WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 141 



\ve found both birds exceedingly agitated on our 

 approach. We had a great search, which was fruit- 

 less, after which we resorted to watching the birds 

 from a distance, and eventually descending from our 

 coign of vantage, the keeper found a nestling quite 

 fledged and out of the nest. Close by, a Wheatear 

 had an unfinished nest under a pile of stones, relics 

 of an old cottage wall. From an adjacent bank a 

 Rock Ouzel's nest had been pulled out by some good- 

 for-nothing. From here we journeyed to the "Wheel," 

 where, down a disused shaft, was another Rock Ouzel's 

 home. To examine this I had to lean down the 

 shaft whilst the keeper held me by the heels. From 

 here we journeyed to the Buzzard's eyrie close by 

 the one which held a single egg on May 6th. I got 

 within about twenty yards of the sitting bird before 

 she glided off, giving me a splendid view. Another 

 egg had been laid, which was even better marked than 

 the first. Both these eggs were remarkable for their 

 size and colouring. It is unusual to find size and 

 good colouring in eggs, for usually if well-coloured 

 they are small, whereas if large the markings are not 

 so bright or extensive. Whilst here, a Grey Hen 

 flew across the valley below ; they are rather scarce 

 in these hills. 



We now crossed back to a dingle above L. house, 

 where yet another pair of Buzzards nested last year. 

 The old nest had been patched up and a fresh one 

 built the other side of the gorge. Here, too, we 

 found another Moor Ouzel's nest with four eggs. It 

 now began to rain in torrents and continued to do so. 

 On the way home we again fell in with our friend of 



