SOME MOORLAND BIRDS 71 



and such like homely songsters, even tumbled together with a solid insta- 

 in this desolate region, find shelter, bility, as if hurled by a giant arm in 

 Then deploy through a reeking, marshy some prehistoric game and abandoned, 

 tract hirsute with stunted oaks and threatens to topple over on to the 

 alders, a spot beloved of " cock " in faintly indicated riverpath below, 

 winter. As you leave it, but not be- Scale the rocks and visit the robber 

 fore examining a lesser redpoll's home stronghold. By this time the promis- 

 firmly wedged a dainty, down - lined ing brood, lusty in their newly-ac- 

 cradle in the prickly recesses of a quired strength, have deserted their 

 straggling hedge, the entire panorama trampled couch of sticks and wool, 

 of the valley suddenly bursts into view, and sit composedly on various ledges. 

 Crumbling walls of broken-up rock They little reck your intrusion 

 tower on either side for many a lonely perhaps it is their first sight of 

 mile. The river, springing from its man but with their parents it is an- 

 birthplace on the confines of the Car- other matter. Well do they know his 

 digan hills hard by, now glitters in sinu- hated presence, and angered beyond 

 ous curves through morasses of bog measure they flap about above the 

 and meadow, anon spouts and tumbles rocks with far quicker flight than usual, 

 riotously in veritable cataracts over croaking furiously. At one moment 

 giant boulders. One spot, where the they are so close that the rustle of 

 rocks almost embrace across the stream, their stiff pinions suggests the " frou- 

 is locally known as " Camraur Bleid- frou " of a silk skirt ; next minute, 

 diad," meaning the wolves' footsteps, settling on neighbouring crags, they 

 a fact which of itself proclaims that puff out their cheek feathers and raise 

 these grey savages once found good their hackles in an access of fury, 

 harbouring here. Now the only larger Now half climb, half scramble down 

 wild animals left are badger, fox, otter to the track and once again follow 

 and polecat, but, of winged outlaws, the back course of the stream. Sand- 

 buzzards still mew far overhead ; occa- pipers will be your companions, and 

 sionally my lord peregrine " winnows " at several recognized spots where the 

 down dale ; and to this day a pair of rocks rise high and dry above the 

 ill-omened ravens are regular inhab- water, pairs of dainty grey wagtails are 

 itants of that grey escarpment on the admired and their respective nests 

 right, which, a medley of huge slabs examined. One nest contains nearly- 



