( 287 ) 



THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. 



By E. Cambridge Phillips, 

 Member of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. 



(Concluded from p. 220.) 



Wild Swan, Cygnus musicus.— At one time probably visited 

 Llangorse Lake regularly in severe weather. The last birds 

 seen there, as recently reported to me by a fisherman who 

 still frequents the lake, was about twenty years since, when he 

 saw six there one winter's morning, but has never observed any 

 since. About fourteen years ago, in riding down the beautiful 

 valle}' of the Usk towards Talybont I myself saw a single Swan, 

 probably a wild one, flying very high in the direction of the sea. 

 The grand and powerful flight of that snow-white bird, cleaving 

 its way through the air, I shall not easily forget. 



Greylag Goose, Anser ferns. — Only occasionally seen in 

 severe weather, and then passing over at a great height. A few 

 have been shot from time to time, and a friend of mine tells a 

 good tale of a gamekeeper of his seeing some Geese in very hard 

 weather in a meadow, and in an excellent position for stalking 

 them, but after watching them for some time he came to the 

 conclusion they were tame birds until undeceived by their flying 

 away. 



Brent Goose, Anser bernicla. — I have received reports of 

 individuals of this species having been killed in this county, but 

 I imagine they must have been exhausted birds detached from 

 flocks, or, what is more probable, driven inland by the violence 

 of some storm, the Brent Goose being essentially a bird of the 

 sea-coast. 



Sheldrake, Taclorna vulpanser. — Has been obtained here 

 from time to time, although rare. Three winters ago one was 

 seen, close to this town, on the Usk, and others have been killed 

 on the Wye. It is not generally a difficult bird to approach, and 

 its bright colours render it very conspicuous. It breeds all along 

 the sandy coasts of South Wales, and passengers crossing the 

 Severn in the steamboat at Portskewett may often observe it, as 

 it is fairly plentiful in that neighbourhood. 



Wild Duck, Anas boschas. — Common, breeding all over the 

 county on the numerous hiil-bogs, and in quiet places adjoining 



