130 Wild Life in Wales 



left behind by some wandering clan, or abandoned with the 

 heavier impedimenta on a sudden surprise ; but in any case, 

 it lies there still, awaiting an owner, and may have occupied 

 its present site since before the time of the Romans. The 

 hardness of the stone may be judged from the slight amount 

 of abrasion it has undergone in the interval, and the nature 

 of its dressing reflects credit upon the skill of the workman, 

 who is supposed to have been possessed of only rough tools 

 of stone. 



Much of the ground on this range of hills is drier than 

 on the Arenig side of the lake, and grows better heather, 

 providing, in consequence, more valuable grouse moors, 

 and, needless to say, the bird has every attention paid to it. 

 Ranges of shooting butts break the monotony of the heather 

 in every direction, and nowhere, I think, have I seen butts 

 built in such a workman-like and substantial manner. In 

 summer their rounded walls of turf form favourite coigns 

 of vantage to numerous Cuckoos and Pipits, and are also 

 sometimes turned to account by a Merlin as a dinner table. 

 I saw one in such use to-day, on the Aber Hirnant moor, 

 and with binoculars watched a male Merlin make three or 

 four successful sorties upon passing Oak-Egger moths. 

 His method of sallying out from, and always returning to 

 his perch, strikingly recalling the tactics of a Spotted Fly- 

 catcher. In capturing the moths he did not resort to stoop- 

 ing, as we are accustomed to see Merlins take a feathered 

 prey, but, gliding up to the approaching quarry, he either 

 seized it at once, with outstretched talon, or followed its 

 twisting flight in close pursuit until he was able to do so. I 

 did not observe that more than one foot was ever brought 

 into use, and the captured insect was always carried back to 

 the feeding place in the foot extended at full length beneath 

 the tail. It is years ago since I satisfied myself that most 

 (and probably <?//) birds hold the feet in this position, when 

 in ordinary flight, and not doubled against the breast, as 

 most generally represented in drawings ; and it is certain 

 that birds of prey would always carry their booty in the like 

 manner, were it not that it is sometimes too heavy to admit 

 of their doing so. In the latter event, it hangs pendent 



