SOME RARE BIRDS 233 



course with greatest precision. Just now he and his 

 mate have a hungry brood to forage for, and very 

 assiduous they are in their duty. Their moss-built 

 nest, wedged in an angle formed by two foam- 

 flecked rocks, harmonises wonderfully with them ; 

 and by the inexperienced eye is seen with difficulty. 



A Grey Wagtail passes overhead volatu undoso, 

 doubtless on his way to a " setting " mate ; and from 

 those beetling slate-stone crags on our left the 

 hoarse barking "qualme" of an angry Raven is 

 heard. Here, then, at least one pair of our dusky 

 friends have survived another winter, and having 

 braved all foes, successfully, are now engaged in 

 bringing up a promising brood. 



Scale the rocks and visit the eyrie : climb care- 

 fully ; for the slate is treacherous in the extreme 

 and facilis descensus averno and its sequel may be 

 ours. At last we reach a ledge from which the 

 interior of the nest is visible nearer than this we 

 cannot get without the aid of ropes, but nevertheless 

 a splendid view is obtained. The nest, a huge 

 structure of sticks and heather branches, lined 

 copiously with wool and fur, the exterior freely 

 whitewashed, making it conspicuous from some 

 distance, contains three, no, four well-grown Ravens, 

 and we look down into the intense pinkish red of 

 their expectant mouths, a hue which contrasts 

 admirably with the gloomy grey surroundings a 

 dash of colour in a monotonous environment. Both 

 old birds are now on view, in their displeasure tearing 

 off the smaller branches and shoots of yon mountain- 

 ash. They dare not come close, but they would be 



