Twite and other Small Birds 161 



Tree Pipits, Whinchats, Willow Wrens, and Sand- 

 pipers are perhaps the commonest of these railway-side 

 birds ; but in addition to many nests of each of these, I also 

 sometimes found several of those of Yellow-hammers, 

 Meadow Pipits, Robins, 1 Hedge Sparrows, Whitethroats, 

 Linnets, Partridges, and Pheasants, in the course of a 

 morning's walk, not to mention the Blackbirds and 

 Thrushes already referred to ; while amongst casual nests 

 observed on the railway were Spotted Flycatchers, Yellow 

 Wagtails, a Twite, Wrens, Chaffinches, 2 a Land Rail, and a 

 Red-backed Shrike. Of course, many of these were amongst 

 the sallows and other bushes fringing the line, or in 

 growths of brambles, heather, and so forth. About the 

 eaves of workmen's huts, Wrens' nests were frequent, and 

 Flycatchers' not uncommon, three of the latter occupying 

 recesses in half-decayed sleepers that formed posts in the 

 wire containing-fence. Dippers find congenial sites under 

 some of the bridges that carry the metals over the numerous 

 streams. 



The Twite's nest contained three eggs on 2oth May 1905, 

 and was shortly afterwards deserted, probably owing to my 



1 The Rhobin goch, Frongoch, or Bronrhuddyn^ is quite as great a 

 favourite here as in other places. In addition to other better known 

 legends, there is one current in Wales giving the Robin credit for carrying 

 drops of water in its bill to moisten the parched tongues of the damned, 

 and his breast has become scorched red in consequence of his frequent visits 

 to the nether regions. A local rhyme runs to the effect that 



" He who would rob the Wren's nest will prosper nevermore ; 

 But he who kills the Robin would shed his brother's gore." 



While another informs us that 



" Where the Robin lives in peace, the people know no sorrow, 

 But where a Robin's killed, there'll be a death to-morrow." 



2 The Chaffinch shares with the Robin the designation of Bronrhuddyn 

 (Red-breast), but is also known as Gwinge, or Y-winge \ the Bullfinch is 

 Coch-y-berllan, Llostrhuddyn^ or Rhaivn-goch ; the Greenfinch, Llinos 

 werdd, or Pi la giuyrdd\ Yellow-hammer, Llinos felen, Peneuryn (a name 

 also applied to the Goldfinch), and Melynog\ the Wagtail, Y tinsigl, or 

 Sigl-y-dwfr^ Sigl-y-gwys, etc. ; Yellow Wagtail, Sigl felen ; Grey Wagtail, 

 Sigl Iwyd-felen (from its yellow breast) ; Pied Wagtail, Siglfraith^ etc. The 

 Meadow Pipit is Hedydd-y-waen, or Corhedydd, the latter name as 

 frequently applied to the Tree Pipit, which otherwise becomes Hedydd-y- 

 coed ; Llinos signifies Linnet ; Hedydd^ Lark ; Whitethroat, Cegvuyn. 

 Partridge is Petrusen^ Coriar, or Clugiar. 



II 



