4 TEE ZOOLOGIST.. 



the Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding in -ahout their usual 

 numbers at this inland haunt, twelve miles from the sea. 

 Dunlin were also nesting upon the bog, and a pair of Redshanks 

 passed overhead. On Whit Monday I visited a Buzzard's nest 

 in the neighbourhood of Strata Florida. It was situated in a 

 thin Scotch fir at a height of about thirty feet from the ground, 

 and contained two young birds, differing in age, and an un- 

 hatched egg, together with a mole brought by the old birds as 

 provision for the former. On June 15th I found a small colony 

 of Lesser Terns breeding at the mouth of the Dovey, where, 

 as Mr. Feilden informs me, they established themselves in 

 1896 or 1897. 



The Redbreast began to sing again on July 27th. On Aug. 

 1st Chaffinches were singing their broken summer song, and two 

 days later a Willow- Wren was warbling softly to itself. A late 

 Yellowhammer's nest contained young nearly fledged upon 

 Aug. J 6th. On the 17th a Swift went to its nest-hole under 

 the eaves for the last time. 



A large number of Ray's Wagtails in fields beside the Rheidol 

 on Aug. 20th were evidently on migration. A Chiffchaff was 

 singing quietly its late summer song, which I heard again on 

 Sept. 3rd. The Spotted Flycatcher was last noted on the 14th. 

 On Sept. 15th a Stonechat " chacked " and sang a strain or two. 

 At the end of the month the Whimbrel's note announced its 

 presence upon the return migration. 



A Thrush was coming into song again on October 23rd. The 

 last member of a late brood of young Swallows lingered till 

 Nov. 1st. On Nov. 2nd the Cirl Bunting sang ; here the most 

 constant of songsters, its monotonous trill is heard throughout 

 the year. 



Mr. D. B. Grubb, who again visited the district referred to 

 above, informed me that eggs had been taken from two Kites' 

 nests, those of the only two pairs which continue to frequent 

 that neighbourhood. An unsuccessful attempt was made to 

 protect one nest by coiling barbed wire round the trunk of the 

 tree. This fine species is nearing extinction in Wales, its nests 

 being ruthlessly harried by egg- dealers whose names are perfectly 

 well known. There is no possibility of these Kites breeding 

 successfully except under such protection as would be afforded 



