344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
are searching about for nests we flush a Common Sandpiper 
from a rock covered with herbage near the water’s edge, but it 
does not appear to have a nest there. Some empty Coots’ and 
Waterhens’ nests are found, and the only one that we find 
containing eggs is a Dabchick’s. This nest is floating midst 
the stems of some tree close to the water’s edge, and when 
found it is covered with wet leaves, weeds, &c., but on removing 
these we expose five yellow-stained eggs. Quitting this lake 
we proceed on towards the other, called Llyn Bodgylched. 
This is a fine sheet of water, with sedge and high reeds 
covering about one-half of it, and where usually we found 
a wealth of bird-life. However, very few birds are present 
to-day, those that we see being Wild Ducks, Coots, Waterhens, 
Snipe, and a single Sedge-Warbler. Near to the border of the 
lake we find a Peewit’s nest and four eggs, and on proceeding to 
the opposite side we observe some Sand-Martins skimming about 
over the lake. 
25th.—This afternoon we cycle to Carreg Onnen, a high 
cliff on the Anglesey coast, where a large colony of Cormorants 
breed. At length we arrive at our destination, and straightway 
make for the cliffs. Walking along the top of these, a halt is 
made, for our olfactory senses have detected the nesting-site 
of the ‘‘Colliers,” as the Cormorants are known to the in- 
habitants around here. The Cormorants are very plentiful, 
and on the ledges about half-way down the cliff are many 
nests containing eggs. As we clamber down, all the birds 
that can see us immediately leave, but so soon as we have 
hidden ourselves amongst some small nut trees they return, 
landing clumsily on to the ledges, and some of them uttering 
a harsh croak while doing so. Some of the male birds are 
very savage, and fight with each other until one gets too near 
to the edge and overbalances itself. One pair that we see are 
very loving, the male bird fondling the female by gently running 
its bill along the feathers of her head and bringing it around 
the eyes and over the lores, &c., just as Pigeons do. A few 
Herring-Gulls are also nesting here, and we observe some of 
their nests containing eggs. On returning we see a brace of 
Partridges, a Corn-Bunting on the top of a furze-bush, and 
later we hear the churring note of a Nightjar, and then see 
the bird itself leaving a branch of an oak-tree by the road- 
