54 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS ABOUND CARDIFF. 

 By J. Blake. 



The Mistle-Thrush, Song-Thrush, and Blackbird are very 

 common in the neighbourhood of Cardiff, and their nests can be 

 found almost anywhere. They are all early breeders, and nests 

 of all three are commonly found in March. The Ring-Ouzel is 

 scarce, though last year a pair bred at the Alp's Quarry, near 

 Cardiff, but the nest was robbed. I could tell the bird by the 

 white patch on its breast. This is the only pair I have met 

 with breeding in this district. The Whinchat and Stonechat are 

 both fairly common and breed regularly. The Robin, of course, 

 is very common. Last year I found a nest in a tool-box in a 

 shed, and the birds succeeded in hatching out four young, 

 although the door was locked for the greater part of the day. 

 The birds entered the shed through a crack in the side. 



The Greater Whitethroat is common, but the Lesser White- 

 throat is rather scarce, although I came across several pairs 

 breeding this year. One nest I found was situated about five 

 yards from the nest of a pair of Greater Whitethroats. The 

 Blackcap and Garden-Warbler breed regularly, the latter being 

 the scarcer. 



The Golden-crested Wren, Willow- Wren, Wood- Wren, and 

 Chiffchaff breed regularly. 



The Nightingale, although it is becoming scarcer, usually 

 breeds every year. The Reed-Warbler and Sedge-Warbler 

 breed regularly in suitable localities. Last year I came across 

 a pair of Marsh-Warblers breeding near St. Fagans, which is, I 

 think, the first time they have been observed breeding in 

 Glamorgan. The nest contained three eggs, bluish white in 

 ground colour and blotched with dark brown, but unfortunately 

 these were taken. 



The Grasshopper-Warbler is scarce, but a pair usually breed 

 on the Court-y-ralla Estate, near Cardiff. 



