212 Wild Life in Wales 



generally it has only been at one or other season, not 

 both, that their presence has been remarked. 



It is in spring, when the nesting stations are once more 

 sought, that jealousy manifests itself. By that time parents 

 and offspring have probably forgotten one another ; the 

 young are then as independent as their elders, and one pair 

 (no doubt the original one as long as they survive) resumes 

 possession of the family seat, and seldom allows a rival 

 establishment to be set up anywhere very near it, whether 

 by strangers or blood relations. This, however, is a matter 

 for consideration according to local circumstances : I have 

 seen two Ravens* nests not very far from one another, as 

 well as others closely surrounded by Jackdaws and sea- 

 fowl. One of the nearest nests to Llanuwchllyn occupies 

 a commanding promontory on one side of a rocky glen ; 

 while on the other, not more than two or three hundred 

 yards away, is a Peregrine's eyrie. Amongst the trees 

 below these, there is nearly always at least one Crow's nest. 

 When on a visit to the place, on 9th June, I not only 

 saw all these birds, but also nests of the Buzzard, Merlin, 

 and Kestrel, all well inside half a mile's radius, and once 

 or twice had members of nearly all these species in view, 

 on the wing, at the same time. The young Ravens were 

 well fledged, and soared about without making themselves 

 obnoxious to any of their neighbours. The crow's brood 

 had very recently left their nest, and were sitting about on 

 rocks and trees, one of them mounting up to what looked 

 like dangerous proximity to the Falcon's quarters ; and of 

 all the birds the old Crows were by far the noisest and most 

 aggressive. They mobbed each and all of their neighbours 

 in turn, even including the female Falcon, who treated 

 their impudence with silent contempt, soaring out of the 

 way without paying the slightest regard to them. The 

 Tercel, on the other hand, once or twice resented their 

 attacks and drove them back. The Merlins, Kestrels, and 

 Buzzards were all jealous of the Crows approaching their 

 nests too nearly, as well as of one another, and alternately 

 mobbed, and were mobbed by each other. The least aggressive 

 were the Buzzards, and perhaps they were more often attacked 



