EOUGH NOTES FROM NORTH WALES. 91 



'heronry near, nor is any heronry mentioned in Carnarvonshire in the list of 

 heronries compiled by Mr. Harting in the Zoologist (Zool., 1872, p. 3261). 

 The nearest would appear to be at Machynlleth in Merionethshire (Zool., 

 1872, p. 3264), but it would be interesting to know if there is one closer, as 

 Machynlleth is a good way off and the mountains on the south side are very 

 high for a Heron to fly over every day for food. 



The Mallard (A. boscas) breeds but sparingly; in winter, however, it is 

 of course much commoner. The Snipe (G. coelestis) breeds sparingly. The 

 Woodcock (S. rusticuld) is fairly common in winter, but is not, I think, a 

 resident, as I have never seen one in summer. The Landrail (C. pratensis) 

 breeds not uncommonly on the moors ; and the Teal (Q. creccd) is a winter 

 visitor. 



The Pheasant (Ph. colchicus) is rarer towards Festiniog than lower down 

 •towards Bettws, where in the woods it may often be seen. On the moor it 

 is of very rare occurrence, and last year the only bird seen was a young hen 

 on the edge of the heather. 



The Partridge (P. cinerea) frequents the low-lying moorlands and the 

 cornfields at the base of the hills. They lie very close indeed in the rough 

 scrub on the side of the moor, and are very hard to find, even with a dog. 

 They are fine big birds, and have a very strong flavour, owing, no doubt, to 

 -the heather which they feed on. They are never found on the very high 

 parts of the mountain. 



The Red Grouse (L. scoticus) is the chief attraction of the place. They 

 are very large, strong, and healthy birds, and disease (Grouse disease) is 

 unknown iu the district. 



Hatching seasons vary very much, a wet year swamping the nests on the 

 boggy parts of the moor, and only giving the second broods a chance, with 

 the result that the twelfth finds the birds about as large as Thrushes. 



On some farms there always seems to be a larger number of " Squeakers " 

 than on others, particularly where the ground is rocky and without much 

 good heather — for example, near Festiniog. 



There is not really sufficient heather to support a large head of game, but 

 with careful preservation and hard vermin killing for several years the stock 

 would be vastly larger than at present. The birds pack very early, and are 

 then unapproachable. They are always rather wild and very strong on the 

 wing, and as they are not numerous enough to drive (the nature of the ground 

 besides renders driving very awkward) anything like a " bag " is impossible. 

 As it is you have to work very hard to get ten brace a day, and you do not 

 often get that. 



In winter, when the snow is very deep, the wooded sides of Bertheos 

 afford shelter to the Grouse from the moors all round, and I have been told 

 that the number to be seen on some occasions packed together in this shelter 



