138 The Zoologist — March, 1866. 



tearing the eye out, and by repeated blows through the socket : they 

 generally attack the young and weakly lambs. 



Rook, — Common. The rooks from a large rookery near here pass 

 this house every morning, in the direction of the mountains, for about 

 three hours after daybreak, returning again just before dusk : they form 

 a line further than the eye can reach in both directions, and at that 

 time they are all past within an hour. 



Jackdaw. — Common : generally in company with the rooks. 



Magpie. — Very common, but so readily destroyed that I fear it will 

 soon be a rarity; still, as there are large tracts of country without a 

 gamekeeper, it has a chance for the present. It is a very destructive 

 bird, and in many places is quite a pest. I have heard of a place in 

 the extreme south of the principality, where they used to congregate 

 at night like rooks : it took all the keeper's time to watch them, till 

 some poison was laid, and the following morning he picked up two or 

 three barrows' full of the dead birds. The country people are very 

 superstitious, finding omens in numberless occurrences, and this bird 

 is most carefully watched, as upon the number seen together, the 

 direction of their flight, &c., depends a great deal of "good or bad 

 luck." 



Jay. — Not uncommon in the wooded districts. 



Green Woodpecker. — Common in the wooded dingles; more so 

 where there are old trees, particularly ash. 



Wryneck. — I heard this bird for the first time on the 6th of April : 

 it was not numerous at any time during the summer. 



Common Creeper and Wren. — Common. 



Cuckoo. — Common. It was seen and heard on the 10th of April. 

 It appears to prefer the valleys to the more open districts. 



Kinyfisher. — Though I have not seen this bird, I have good 

 authority for saying it is not uncommon by the rivers and streams. 



Swallow. — Common. I saw four or five on the llth of April. 



Martin. — Not quite so common as the swallow. I did not notice 

 any till the 4th of IMay. 



Sand Martin. — I have only once seen this bird, where four or five 

 were skimming over the river by Cardigan Bridge. There is no suitable 

 place for them to build just here. 



Stci/t. — I have only seen this bird once or twice : they were 

 evidently wanderers. 



Ring Dove. — Common, but not so numerous as in most parts of 

 England. 



