BIRDS OF ANGLESEY AND CARNARVONSHIRE. 311 
seen sporting themselves ata pond. To-day two Swallows are 
observed. 
20th.—We are unable to give this day wholly to the interest 
of bird-life. However, in riding along the narrow lanes we 
observe quite a number of Yellowhammers, Greenfinches, and a 
few Linnets, and also have the pleasure of hearing the Cuckoo 
for the first time this season. 
24th.—This day again we are hindered from spending a 
whole afternoon with the birds, but at about 5 p.m. we take 
ourselves to a wood on the shore of the Menai Straits. Here 
we find many Blackbirds’ and Thrushes’ nests containing both 
eggs and young, and we notice that there are a few young 
Thrushes already on the wing. A pair of Bullfinches are seen, 
but they do not appear to have a nest at the place where they 
were disturbed. 
26th.—When down by the Straits to-day a pair of Dunlin are 
seen, these being in summer plumage. 
27th.—Having been informed that a pair of Mute Swans 
were nesting at a certain place in the county of Anglesey, we 
determined to cycle there on this date. Therefore, at 1 p.m., 
we start, and an hour and a half later we arrive at the lake, the 
only bird which we see on the way worthy of mention being a 
Sparrow-Hawk, which was flying low over the hedgerow. Leaving 
our bicycles we at once begin a detour of the lake, and as we 
proceed we disturb a few Redshanks from the water’s edge. On 
approaching a part of the lake where some bulrushes are grow- 
ing, we see a Swan resting on the shore, and on arriving nearer, 
it lazily stretches out one of its wings and, taking to the 
water, swims gracefully away. Reaching the swamp we look 
about and soon discover the object of our visit right in the 
centre of the bulrushes. When we try to get nearer to the nest 
we sink knee-deep into the mire, but at length we approach as 
near as we dare the sitting bird, which is now showing signs 
of anxiety and hisses. A few photographs of the Swan on its 
nest are taken, and then, as we are taking the camera away, 
an inquisitive farmer appears on the scene and demands to 
know what we are about; however, we soon set him at ease, and 
in turn become inquisitive ourselves as to the history of the 
Swans, but he is not able to tell us much. A little later we meet 
