NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF ANGLE SEA. 2'25 



In Ehos Neigr village we saw one churring from the chimney- 

 stack of a three-storey house. 



The characteristic bird of Holyhead is undoubtedly the Corn- 

 Bunting. Plentiful throughout Anglesea, its extreme abundance 

 here has attracted the attention of many ornithologists. In May 

 the persistent song, which has been likened to the jangling of a 

 bunch of keys, may be heard even in the enclosures among the 

 houses on the outskirts of the town itself. A little further afield 

 the birds were singing everywhere, perched on telegraph and 

 telephone wires, stone walls, or on the bare stems — chiefly 

 brambles — which project above the turf walls. The sluggish 

 birds continue to sing even when one has approached close to 

 them, and then — often with dependent legs— fly slowly for a few 

 yards to some similar perch, and sing again. The majority of 

 the Corn-Buntings appear to leave Anglesea in autumn. In 

 September, 1904, Mr. Cummings only met with two or three 

 birds — one of which was singing — in Western Anglesea, and in 

 October, 1901, we saw but few in this same district. Some few 

 odd birds were in song so late as the 10th of the month, but 

 others we met with were in small flocks. 



A noticeable feature of Holyhead is the absence of Swifts, 

 Swallows, and Martins. During the week we spent there we saw 

 none in the town, though the Swallow is not uncommon in the 

 surrounding country. The Swift, though not abundant, may be 

 seen along the coast ; we met with it at Bryngwran and other 

 villages inland. The House-Martin is rare ; three near Penrhos, 

 one at Carreg-lwyd, and a pair which were nesting at Bodorgan 

 Station were all we saw. The Sand-Martin is infrequent ; a few 

 nest in sand-banks in the warren at the mouth of the Alaw, and 

 others in the mud-cliffs near PJios Neigr and Aberffraw. On the 

 evening of June 4th we saw a good many roosting with Swallows 

 in the reed-beds at Llyn Maelog. Starlings, too, were roosting 

 in the reeds on that date, and three days later we saw a large 

 flock settle to roost in some low willows near Llangwyfan. 

 Several Starlings were nesting in the hold of a stranded hulk 

 in the straits near Valley. 



We frequently saw Mistle-Thrushes feeding on and about the 

 cliffs, and found a nest amongst sea-pink near Carmel Head ; it 

 was within reach from the beach. The Magpie is rare; we only 



