observations on birds in mid-wales. 183 



Galling. 



Red Grouse, Lagopus scoticus. Grouse are in general very 

 scarce upon the grass-grown uplands of Mid-Wales. If met with 

 at all, it is generally where the crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) 

 grows. In a few spots where heather flourishes, as on the Elan 

 Moors near Rhayader, and the low-lying Teifi Bog, grouse are 

 correspondingly plentiful. 



Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix. Probably extinct as a resident 

 in Cardiganshire. Said to have been formerly found on Borth 

 Bog, and may revisit that locality, as about 1886 Mr. F. T. 

 Fielden saw a solitary Grey Hen. I am told that Black Game 

 were introduced at Crosswood by the grandfather of the present 

 Lord Lisburne. All wandered or were shot off, with the exception 

 of a single Grey Hen, which was supposed to have bred with a 

 Red Grouse, as a bird which was taken to be a hybrid between the 

 two was obtained. On the Gogerddan property one or two are 

 still obtained almost every shooting season. They are supposed 

 to cross the hills from Radnorshire, where there are some about 

 Cwm Elan. 



Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus. Owing to the nature of the 

 country, Pheasant-preserving is not general. A few wild-bred 

 birds, without the white ring, are still met with. 



Red-legged Partridge, Caccabis rufa. Eggs have been 

 hatched out in Cardiganshire from time to time, but the species 

 has never established itself. 



Partridge, Perdix cinerea. Fairly plentiful, considering the 

 small amount of arable land. 



Quail, Coturnix communis. Met with almost every season, 

 and in some years exceptionally numerous. I heard of two 

 coveys near Borth in 1893. Years ago a shooting season 

 seldom passed without ten or twelve couples being obtained on 

 the Gogerddan estates. 



Herodiones. 



Heron, Ardea cinerea. A few always on the Dovey, while 

 others fish the small streams in the hills. There are no large 

 heronries, but about eight pairs of birds, carefully protected by 

 the owner, Mr. J. Parry, breed at Llidiardau, Llanilar. About 

 the same number nest at Peniarth, above Towyn, in very tall 

 larches. A few pairs have bred in the rookery at Talgarth near 

 Machynlleth, sharing some Scotch firs with the Rooks ; but last 



