112 BIRD LIFE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 



for a rapid flight as they swerve and circle, at times 

 mounting to a great height. If late in the month, the 

 two or three large roundish eggs, slightly clouded and 

 zoned with red, have probably given place to young 

 birds in greyish down. Fierce as young eaglets, they 

 will strike at the hand of the intruder, in fact, the first 

 hatched, and consequently the strongest of the brood, 

 not infrequently pecks and worries his nest fellows to 

 death. Round the edge of the nest is strewn the 

 provision for this hopeful family, a field-mouse, the 

 remains of a mole and portions of a dead lamb. The 

 harmlessness of the buzzard is now .so generally 

 recognised that most landowners have given their 

 gamekeepers orders not to molest it, and to all appear- 

 ance its presence may long add an item of beauty and 

 interest to the rocky dales of the north and west. 



CALENDAR FOR MAY. 



May ist. — Golden Plover nests. 



Whimbrel arrives. 

 „ 2nd. — Reed Bunting nests. 



Common Gull last seen. 



Swift arrives. 

 „ 3rd. — Mistle Thrush nests for the second time. 

 „ 4th. — Tree Creeper nests. 



Young Ravens leave the nest. 



Garden Warbler arrives. 



