JULY 151 



breed in its full purity at Flamborough, or indeed 

 nearer than the wave-washed precipices of the west 

 coast of Scotland or of Connemara, where, as in 

 the case of the grand Meenawn Cliffs of Achil Island, 

 it nests in caves which are filled with the mist of the 

 sea-spray. Here, too, though gone wholly or almost 

 so from its ancient haunts on the Cornish coast, is the 

 red-billed Chough, most active in flight and pleasing 

 in appearance of the crow tribe. As it flies lightly 

 and swiftly, rising and falling in graceful curves, the 

 eye is pleased with the contrast which the chough 

 presents to the white-winged gulls and its shrill note 

 makes itself heard above the roar of the surges and the 

 whistle of ocean breeze. Yet for some reason apart 

 from the fact that collectors are always ready to pay 

 a good price for its eggs, the chough decreases in 

 numbers, and has vanished from wide stretches of 

 coast which formerly knew it well. 



And what is the small bird, dark olive in colour 

 with spotted breast, which haunts the bare rocky 

 ledges of the gull islands, the grassy slopes of the cliffs 

 and the boulders and seaweed on the shore ? It is 

 not a land bird which has strayed from its proper 

 haunt, for the true home of the Rock Pipit is close to 

 the breaking waves and salt sea spray, and its sharp 

 note is the proper accompaniment of old ocean's wildest 

 music. Strange is it, too, to see the House Martins 

 plastering rows of mud-built tenements under the 



