136 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



I see in this month's Zoologist that the nightingale was heard on the 

 border of "Wales, and it reminded me of what was told me this year by a 

 Welshman — a bard, by the way. Some years ago it was reported that a 

 Nightingale (D. luscinia) had been heard near Festiniog, and hundreds of 

 men — quarry men from the Slate -quarries — went out to listen for it, and 

 hear what they had never heard before. Several declared they heard it, 

 but the majority did not, and had to return disconsolate. However, my 

 informant says it was no doubt there ; but I expect it was a Reed-warbler, 

 which might deceive not a few. I was also told— and I believe this is 

 correct — that one farm, which I have mentioned before, named Bertheos, 

 means, translated, "The Bush of the Nightingale," because the bird was 

 believed to have been heard there. As, however, I am no Welsh linguist, 

 I can only repeat what I have been told, and cannot vouch for the truth of 

 the correctness of the interpretation. 



The Yellow Hammer (E. citrinella) and the Corn Bunting {E. miliaria) 

 were both common, and I saw several Reed Buntings (E. schoeniclus) near the 

 river. 



Vermin, or, as they call it there, " Vernim," has been very bad this year, 

 owing chiefly to the non-preservation — or. perhaps, I should say bad pre- 

 servation — of the moors close by ; but the increase is rather in Crows and 

 ground vermin than in the Hawks. 



Several Dotterels (is. morinellus) were noticed on the moor on Benar in 

 the spring of this year by a gentleman who is well acquainted with birds, 

 and I should think that it is quite possible that one or two might breed. 



I must conclude with what I am afraid will be disbelieved, but which was 

 certainly the most extraordinary and unaccountable occurrence that I ever 

 came across. Last year, 1895, on September 6th, whilst returning from 

 shooting with my brother, I saw a little bunch of birds flying about some 

 low oak trees on the side of Benar, and uttering notes which I have always 

 associated with the Fieldfare (1\ Pilaris). There were five, and I at once 

 said, "Those are Fieldfares," and followed them to try and shoot one, to 

 make certain of their identity. We got close to them amongst the trees, 

 and actually were under one tree in which one sat chattering ; and as it flew 

 about amongst the upper branches I had several good glimpses of it, but I 

 never got a shot. We saw the others fairly close, and I watched them at 

 about sixty yards, as they flew in a straggling line, with a pair of field 

 glasses ; and I must say that if they were not Fieldfares, I do not know in the 

 least what they could have been. I have watched Fieldfares feeding in hard 

 weather often in Oxfordshire within twenty yards of me, and I know them, 

 I believe, and their notes as well as I know any bird ; and my impression at 

 this time left no doubt whatever on my mind as to their identity. What, 

 however, they could have been doing at that date in that place, unless by 



