Contents vii 



CHAPTER XVII 



Highest road in Wales Red-handed thieves of Dinas Morning on the 

 mountain Deceptive distances Geology Querns Shooting butts 

 Merlins Birds teaching their young to fly "The eagle suffers little 

 birds to sing" Stoats Catching a weasel asleep Vachddeiliog 

 Cupid's darts . . . , . . . . 127 



CHAPTER XVIII 



Rhiwaedog Roman and Saxon invasions Lywarch Hen Harriers "The 

 Eagles" Kite Golden and White- tailed Eagles The king of birds- 

 Druid's birds A dust-bath . . v .. . . 144 



CHAPTER XIX 



Wild flowers Varieties of Viviparous grasses Geology Rock plants The 



lawnkeeper's best friend White flowers Toothache Cuckoo spit . 150 



CHAPTER XX 



Ground-building birds Voles, Mice, and Shrews Carnivorous Goose- 

 Welsh names Twites Cuckoos Superstition Plumage of Cuckoo . 159 



CHAPTER XXI 



Sandpipers Spiraea hedges Birds carrying young Adventure with Sparrow 



Hawk Young Sandpipers The angler's invitation . . . 169 



CHAPTER XXII 



Llangowr Yew trees Animals poisoned by yew Stock Doves Golden- 

 crested Wrens Some other warblers Lime Calcium Ring Ouzels 

 Pipits Butterflies . . ,, . ..- . .176 



CHAPTER XXIII 



Crows A many-wintered Crow Crows and Grouse Effect of persecution on 



Crows Habits of Usefulness of . . . . . .184 



CHAPTER XXIV 



Crows Confusion of names The Crow family Choughs Daws and Rooks 



Lessons of a Rookery Starlings Grubs Lucky birds . * 191 



CHAPTER XXV 



Herons Recognising a distant friend Habits of Herons Food "The 



Heron never dies ". . . . . . . . 199 



CHAPTER XXVI 



Ravens Habits and nesting of Corbies a Corby messenger The Raven's 

 God Noah's curse Superstitions The Druid's rock The devil's rock 

 Birds driving away their young A paradise of " vermin " . . 204 



