PIED FLYCATCHER IN WALES. 423 



attraction to this bird, on account of the nesting sites they afford. 

 It occurs, at the rate of one or two pairs to the mile, along the 

 Usk, from Lanthetty to Pant-ys-gallog bridge, a distance of 

 about twenty miles. It is still more frequent on several of the 

 streams running into the main river, such as the Honddhu, 

 Yskir, and Bran, which are much wooded and well suited to its 

 habits. It is also not uncommon in the following woods : — In 

 Fenni Vach, a well- timbered, hilly tract of over a hundred acres, 

 it is found to the extent of about nine or ten pairs. It occurs 

 every year in the Priory Grove, adjoining Brecon ; also in the 

 west of the county, in a certain hill-side wood, remarkable as 

 being one of the few remaining Welsh nesting-places of the 

 Kite. No doubt the Pied Flycatcher also occurs in other places 

 in the large woods in the wilder districts. A pair or two 

 generally settle down close to Brecon. In 1889 I several times 

 saw a male bird about the fine trees in the " Captain's Walk," a 

 promenade skirting the town ; and a pair come most summers, to 

 a grove of old oaks near my house, and have nested there at 

 least twice. 



They arrive in this district about the fourth week in April. 

 Certain spots, well known to trout anglers, are then sure 

 " finds " for this bird. Among these are Dinas Corner, 

 Aberyskir rapids, and the stretch of water above Cwm Ysk. 

 Here, and in other similar spots, the trout-fisher, with an ear 

 for bird music, is pretty sure to recognise the lively song of 

 this little migrant, and perhaps get a glimpse of its striking 

 black-and-white plumage. The song resembles that of the 

 Redstart in duration and frequency of utterance, but it is 

 shriller, and not so loud, and in pitch is nearer to that of the 

 Hedgesparrow. The first three or four notes remind me rather 

 of the spring song of the Coal Tit. I have made several 

 attempts to write it down, and find it varies from time to time. 

 The passages which occur oftenest are : — »" Tichee tichee chuck 

 chuck chee," and " Cheety cheety cheety chee." 



It nests in holes in trees, generally in oaks, at a height of 

 from ten to twenty feet from the ground. Holes bored by the 

 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch are often selected, as 

 well as those formed by decay. Such cavities abound in the 

 well* wooded Usk valley ; but other species which nest in holes 

 have also to be provided for, and no doubt the competition for 



