ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN SOUTH WALES. 15 



shire explored. But as Mr. Rawlings has an interesting note 

 about the Grasshopper Warbler, to the effect that he first 

 observed it six years ago, and that it is increasing annually, I 

 may mention here that I observed it in May, 1888, on Whixhall 

 Moss, a detached portion of Flintshire. 



Here is my list ; it includes fifty-four species, while Mr. Rae- 

 burn's includes sixty-one :- — 



Tardus viscivorus ; T, musicus ; T. merula. 



T. torquatus. — A male, which strung together a few wild notes, 

 and a pair, on rocky slopes. Bill of male dusky yellow. 



Saxicola cenanthe. — Very numerous. 



Pratincola rubetra. — Only one. 



Ruticilla phcenicurus. — Quite common. Seen up the wooded 

 heights to some distance ; also on rocky faces to quite 1000 feet, 

 if only there was a scrubby thorn or other bush, and reminding 

 one of the Black Redstart in the Alps. The Redstart is unknown, 

 or extremely rare, in Pembrokeshire (Mr. Mathew). From what 

 little I have seen of that county I should expect many woodland 

 species to be absent, as my remembrance is of a drear}% rather 

 treeless country. But the Redstart is increasing so in some places 

 that it may push its way into any suitable spots there may be in 

 Pembrokeshire. In Shropshire Mr. Beckwith noted it as very 

 locally distributed. I saw it at Shrewsbury and near the Black 

 Mere in May, 1888, but my host considered it quite uncommon 

 then. I do not know if it is more numerous now, but Mr. Rae- 

 burn found it abundant in most of the localities in Mid-Wales he 

 visited, and Mr. Rawlings records it as very common in Merioneth- 

 shire. Mr. Raeburn must have overlooked this when he stated 

 (p. 406) that the authorities were silent as regards this bird in 

 North Wales. 



Erithacus rubecula. 



Sylvia cinerea. — Fairly common. 



S. atricapilla. — Two or three. 



S. hortensis. — Several observed ; in song. Extremely rare 

 in Pembroke (Mr. Mathew). Fairly distributed (Mr. Raeburn). 

 Rarer than the Blackcap (Mr. Rawlings). 



[S. curruca. — Capt. Swainson writes that it is " pretty evenly 

 distributed in suitable places in the neighbourhood of Brecon," 

 and that he could point to at least a dozen different localities 

 where it can be heard, and perhaps seen, near Brecon (Zool. 1891, 



