NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF ANGLE SEA. 407 



small colony of Guillemots and Razorbills, the species being in 

 almost equal numbers ; in another place a few Razorbills were 

 breeding in horizontal fissures, but we failed to detect any 

 Guillemots there. The Herring- Gull was the dominant Gull in 

 this district ; mature and immature birds were common in the 

 Straits, where the only other member of the family that we 

 observed was the Black-headed Gull. Some of the colonies of 

 Herring-Gulls on the cliffs numbered hundreds of pairs, and in 

 one place there was a fair admixture of Lesser Black-backed 

 Gulls. We saw many Cormorants fishing in the Straits and on 

 the inland lakes, and along the coast birds were constantly pass- 

 ing between their feeding-grounds and a precipitous cliff where a 

 large number were nesting. 



Of birds of prey, we noticed several nesting Kestrels, and one 

 or two Merlins ; and at one spot a pair of Peregrines had their 

 eyrie. Whenever we passed the place the falcon, and sometimes 

 the tiercel, flew out, wheeling in circles above the sea, barking 

 fiercely " hek hek hek." Again and again the falcon would 

 stoop, as if in sport, at the Herring-Gulls which were passing 

 along the cliff to their nesting-places, sweeping up again just 

 before she reached them. The Gulls always swerved a little 

 from their course when the falcon was all but on them, uttering a 

 short single frightened scream. A Kestrel, on the other hand, 

 which was nesting in a disused Carrion- Crow's nest, several 

 times hovered over and stooped at the Peregrine, which merely 

 swerved aside and made no attempt to retaliate. The Kestrel 

 was not uncommon inland, but we only met with the Sparrow- 

 Hawk once — at Gaerwen, where a male was gibbeted in a 

 keeper's museum, along with a couple of Stoats and eighteen 

 Weasels. 



There were several large colonies of Jackdaws along these 

 cliffs, and a few pairs of Carrion- Crows were scattered here and 

 there. At one place we came upon a pair of Ravens in attend- 

 ance on a brood of young which had not long left the nest. As 

 at Penmon, the Meadow-Pipit was not uncommon, and the Rock- 

 Pipit was feeding young in many places early in June. The 

 tangle-covered debris at the foot of the cliffs provided a feeding- 

 ground at low-water for many Oystercatchers and a few Sheld- 

 Ducks. It was evident from their excited behaviour that some 



