ABERCONWY. 147 



In the spring, great quantities of sand eels are 

 dug- out below Twthill : they are of the size of 

 sprats, and are found in the small gravel, about a 

 foot from the surface of the sand. As the other 

 lish whicli are taken in this river are of the usual 

 kinds, they do not require to be particularly no- 

 ticed. 



BIRDS. 



Falco haliaetus. Osprey. Gwalch y weilgi. 



A fine specimen of this bird was shot by the gamekeeper in 

 Gloddaith wood, in 1828. 



Falco peregrinus. Falcon. Hebog dramor. 



This beautiful and noble bird annually breeds in the rocks 

 of Llandudno and Rhiwleden. Their eggs are generally four in 

 number, of a reddish colour. They are so jealous of one another, 

 that only one pair will be found to nestle in the same rock. Fal- 

 conry was held in very great esteem by our ancestors, and accord- 

 ing to the laws of Hywel Dda, the Penhehoyydd, or chief falconer, 

 was the fourth in rank among the twenty-four officers of the king's 

 court; taking precedence ofthejudgeof the palace, the head groom, 

 and the chief huntsman. The following extract enumerates his 

 privileges: " The fourth is the chief falconer. He is entitled to 

 have a horse kept in readiness for him, and his land free. His seat 

 in the palace is the fourth next to the king at mess. His lodging 

 is the king's barn, that the smoke may not injure his birds. He 

 ought to bring his vessel to the palace to have liquor in it, for he 

 should only quench his thirst, lest any accident befall his birds. 

 He is entitled to receive from the steward of the household a hand- 

 breadth of wax candle, that he may feed his birds, and make his bed. 

 He is not obliged to pay a fee to the head groom ; for the king him- 



K 2 



