THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. 135 



year they were equally plentiful in the adjoining county of 

 Caermarthen. 



Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis. — Plentiful throughout the 

 county. On the Crug, a hill near Brecon, it is common, and 

 may often be seen on the short turf there feeding, and, if 

 disturbed, flying with its undulating flight to the nearest tree, 

 uttering at intervals its loud and somewhat weird cry. 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Picas major. — Rare with 

 us. I have seen it once, and once only, on one of the large elms 

 in my garden. I also saw a very beautiful hen bird killed by Mr. 

 Williams-Vaughan, jun., at the Skreen-on-the-Wye, his Radnor- 

 shire residence, and close to the borders of Breconshire. The 

 cock bird flew about in loneliness for some time, and was after- 

 wards killed, and the pair are now in that gentleman's collection. 

 There are also several stuffed specimens in the town that have 

 been killed at or near Brecon. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Picus minor. — Much com- 

 moner than Picus major, but still far from plentiful. Occasionally 

 one pays me a visit, and I have seen it in Vennyvach Wood, and 

 other parts of the county. Its variegated plumage of black and 

 white makes it so attractive that one cannot fail to notice it. 



Wryneck, Jynx torquilla. — Not common with us, but its nest 

 has been taken by some young friends of mine. I imagine 

 it occurs very sparingly throughout the county, although, as a 

 summer migrant, its numbers are of course liable to variation. 



Hoopoe, Upupa epops. — This beautiful bird occurs only as an 

 accidental visitor with us. I can, however, out of many reports, 

 give two with certainty, viz., one killed at Cathedine, near Llan- 

 gorse, by my friend the late Mr. David Brown, and now in 

 the possession of Mr. David Thomas of this town, and another 

 killed some years since at Frwdgrech, near Brecon. The former 

 had a beautiful crest, but the latter, when T saw it, was either 

 very badly stuffed or was in bad plumage when killed. 



Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus. — Very common. Last year one 

 frequented my garden, where, as the gardener expressed it, it 

 " sang lovely." 



Kingfisher, Alceclo ispida. — Fairly numerous on the Usk and 

 Wye and on the Brecon Canal, but certainly decreasing during 

 the last two or three years. It is only occasionally seen on the 

 mountain streams, and I think that it prefers slow-running water. 



