218 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



but lichens. Often the eggs were placed on the bare rock, no 

 attempt having been made to build a nest. On July 30th, 1884, 

 eggs were still plentiful on the stacks ; although there were many 

 young birds about there were also fresh eggs ; no doubt the first 

 clutches had been taken. In 1892, however, the birds appear to 

 have been earlier than usual, for on June 6th most of the eggs — 

 and there were great numbers — were more or less incubated ; a 

 few were even chipping. 



On the Anglesea mainland, between Cymmeran, where the 

 strait is little more than a stone's-cast wide, and the Crugyll 

 estuary at Ehos Neigr, is a long stretch of sand-dunes, where 

 many Sheld-Ducks and Stock-Doves breed in the Rabbit-holes. 

 Einged Plovers nest on the sandy shore and on the big pebble 

 banks at the mouth of the Crugyll. Here, too, there is a colony 

 of Lesser Terns, perhaps consisting now of a dozen pairs, 

 although twenty years ago, when Ehos Neigr was but a hamlet, 

 more than double this number nested. Even then the fisher- 

 lads persecuted the birds, and now the visitors give them little 

 peace. This year, on June 6th, a bitter east wind was blowing, 

 and the eggs in some of the nests were all but covered by the 

 drifting sand. On that day two Dunlins, in company with six 

 Sanderlings, were feeding on the beach ; with them were two 

 Einged Plovers, apparently examples of the small migratory 

 race, for they were obviously smaller and of slighter build than 

 the birds which were nesting in the immediate neighbourhood. 

 We followed this little party along the tide-line ; when we put 

 them up, as we did several times, the birds only flew for a few 

 yards, keeping together all the time. When feeding the Dunlins 

 ran with the tips of their long bills close to the ground, occa- 

 sionally probing the sand, but the Sanderlings carried their 

 heads higher, and pecked at their food in the same manner as 

 Einged Plovers. We saw three other Dunlins in full breeding 

 dress by the side of the river. In former years we have often 

 seen Dunlins in summer plumage in Cymmeran Bay and the 

 Crugyll Estuary in May and June, and less frequently have met 

 with parties of Turnstones. On May 23rd, 1892, eight Turn- 

 stones were feeding along high-water mark, turning over the 

 dried seaweed to obtain the sandhoppers concealed beneath. 

 This year we came across eight on the rocky shore near Llan- 



