300 Wild Life in Wales 



stillness is broken only by the chirping of the sparrows 

 under the tiles, already conscious of a coming storm. Dark 

 angry clouds are drifting across the heavens ; and one broad 

 mass, perceptibly increasing and assuming each moment a 

 deeper shade, bespeaks the lowering tempest. Now, as we 

 stand watching that strange yellow light, which spreads 

 itself for a while over surrounding objects, as one by one 

 the heavy drops foretell the drenching shower, strange 

 forms are seen sweeping through the air in the very c eye 

 of the storm,' and the sooty plumage of the Swifts contrasts 

 even with the blackest portions of the surrounding atmo- 

 sphere. No wonder, then, that their appearance at such 

 times, issuing from their fastnesses as the very " demons of 

 the storm," coupled with their " uncanny " looks and shrill 

 cries, should have won for them in a superstitious age the 

 name of Devilins." 



I had good cause to remember these words one day when 

 sheltering amongst the rocks on the Ddwallt from one of 

 the sharpest thunderstorms I ever recollect being out in, 

 when, just before the storm broke, a party of Swifts hawked 

 along the face of the cliff, perfectly regardless of the 

 Peregrine Falcon which sat calling on a rock above them, 

 or of her partner who circled overhead. Indeed, the Swift 

 would seem to have small cause to fear any enemy in the air, 

 for we have no bird which excels it on the wing. The Hobby, 

 which makes a common prey of Swallows and Martins, is 

 said to capture one occasionally, and I once saw a Merlin 

 stoop at one ; but, time and again, I have seen scattered 

 bands of Swifts feeding on the moors where Merlins had 

 their nests, and even passing, and repassing, the hawks in 

 the air, without the least apparent concern, and without any 

 attempt made upon them. But almost any day in summer 

 they may be seen hawking round the mountain tops, paying 

 no regard whatever to any bird that may happen to be near 

 them. 



In Wales the Swift is often called Gwennol ddu^ or " the 

 black martin " ; but round Llanuwchllyn it was generally 

 Coblyn ddu^ which is practically identical with the Gaelic 

 Gobhlan dubh^ or "black goblin." By irreverent Saxons, 



