

OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS IN MID- WALES. 181 



were destroyed ; and this year I could see nothing of Falcons 

 here or elsewhere. In June I did not meet with any in walking 

 along the whole of the Cardiganshire coast. Inland there was 

 formerly a nest upon a crag in one of the tributary dales of the 

 upper Towy ; and in March, 1894, a Falcon revisited this locality. 

 In autumn and winter the species is less local, and there have 

 been numerous occurrences. 



Merlin, F, cesalon. Not uncommon in autumn and winter, 

 especially about the salt-marshes of the Dovey. Doubtless breeds 

 on Borth and Tregaron bogs. 



Hobby, F. subbuteo. One seen by Capt. G. W. Cosens flying 

 over his house at Llanbadarn in September, 1891. 



Kestrel, F. tinnunculus. Breeds commonly in the cliffs, 

 both on the coast and in the rocky dales of the Wye and Towy. 

 Some eggs found in 1892 were compared with others taken from 

 the same hole in 1882, and were evidently the produce of the same 

 bird. I have seen the eggs in a hole in a quarry laid on the bare 

 stone without a trace of nesting material. Kestrels killed many 

 small birds during frost, January 9th to 12th, 1892. At Hafod, 

 on April 5th, 1894, one rose hastily from the ground, leaving the 

 tail of a lizard, which continued to wriggle for about an hour. 



White-tailed Eagle, Haliceetus albicilla. An Eagle, no doubt 

 of this species, was seen by Mr. F. Abel at the Bird Bock on two 

 consecutive days between the 15th and 20th of November, 1881 

 or 1882. The weather was very bad and rough at the time. On 

 the second occasion, when it was also seen by several members of 

 a shooting party, it left the rock, and flew in the direction of 

 Barmouth. 



Kite, Milvus ictinus. Well known to all whose recollection 

 of Mid-Wales extends back forty or fifty years. At the present 

 day it is doubtful if more than seven or eight pairs are left in the 

 Principality. I know of no recent instance of the Kite having 

 nested in Cardiganshire. At Devil's Bridge, which was formerly 

 a favourite haunt, I hear of thirteen having been seen upon the 

 wing at once. The last nest in this locality was about 1860. The 

 female was shot from the nest, and the eggs taken. Two young 

 birds from the same neighbourhood were brought to Nanteos. 

 The female, after killing her companion, lived there for about 

 twenty years in captivity, and laid one egg* The Kite wanders to 



