THE BIBDS OF BARDSEY ISLAND. 15 



the mountain ; but we did not move the female, which must have been 

 sitting on a late clutch of eggs. During the time we were in the 

 vicinity of the crag, the male — a beautiful old blue bird — continued to 

 circle round, occasionally coming overhead, and comparatively close 

 to us. He cried incessantly his harsh grating " quayk quayk quayk 

 quayk." The next morning, when I went up by myself, he behaved in 

 the same way. 



24. Kesteel (F. tinnunculus). — Only one seen. 



25. Coemoeant (Phalacrocorax car bo). — Seen near Bardsey. 



26. Shag (P. graculus). — A few along the east side, where I think 

 they breed. 



27. Stock-Dove (Columba cenas). — One on the mountain side. 



28. Tubtle-Dove (Turtur communis). — To my great surprise, I saw 

 one feeding in one of the little fields. I had never previously met with 

 it in Lleyn, nor, indeed, in any part of the counties of Carnarvon and 

 Merioneth. This individual was probably a wanderer ; and the species 

 may be extending its range in North Wales. A friend of mine saw 

 one this year near Dolgelly in May ; the only previous occurrence in 

 that neighbourhood known to me was in a past September, when two 

 were seen (and, I think, shot) close to Barmouth. 



29. Coen-Cbake {Creac pratensis). — Common. I could hear three 

 calling at one time. 



30. Peewit ( Vaiiellus vulgaris). — A few ; chiefly about the light- 

 house end. 



31. Oysteecatcheb (Hamatopus ostralegus). — " Saer " = the artificer. 

 Fairly common, especially round the rocks of the south point, and 

 along the west side. I think they were breeding where the turf merged 

 into the rocks. But I only looked for one nest ; this was among some 

 jagged whitish rocks at the edge of the turf. It was lined with 

 angular stones half an inch to an inch in length, and contained two 

 eggs, the finest Oystercatcher's eggs I ever saw. The one I took was 

 partly incubated. It is a long, rather pointed egg, well marked with 

 large dark markings chiefly round the big end, where the blotches and 

 streaks form a broken zone. The birds mobbed me savagely, flying 

 within ten yards or less of my head, with loud shrieks of "pic." 

 When they settled at a little distance this cry was uttered so rapidly 

 that it developed into a trill. 



32. Dunlin (Tringa alpina). — One or two immature birds about the 

 landing-place. 



33. Common Sandpipee (Totanus hypoleucus). — One there. It is 

 quite posssble that this species may breed on the island. 



34. Cuelew {Numenius arquata). — One or two seen. 



