CHAPTER V 



A SUMMER WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES (IQO2) 



MarcJi \^tJi. Moved my furniture into my cottage 

 here. Six horses were used to get it up the gradient 

 of the last mile. Visited the fir plantation above the 

 house, and found that the badgers had returned to 

 their " set" They were not here a month ago when 

 I was down in these parts, and the Colonel and 

 myself were afraid that the tenant farmer might have 

 improved them. 



March \^th. Left my cottage for an inn in the hill 

 country, reaching it about 1 1 .30. On the drive up from 

 the station (Mr. Pike, my collaborateur, was with me) 

 we saw half a dozen Buzzards in the air together, at 

 which we were much pleased. On reaching the inn 

 we met the keeper, and shortly started for a certain 

 place in a valley known to us, where the Raven breeds 

 yearly. Close to the inn we noticed a pair of these 

 birds driving off some Buzzards from their sacred 

 spot, but their nest, which was in the usual spot, did 

 not on examination appear to be completed. This 

 struck us as rather curious, for normally Ravens 

 should be " setting " by this date. A little further up 



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