56 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the middle of a field. In this clump of trees I found the 

 following nests: — Carrion Crow's, Kestrel's, and the Barn Owls'. 

 The Kestrel's nest was in the same tree as a pair of Barn-Owls', 

 and was situated in a kind of shelf in the tree, the bottom of 

 which was covered with fine wood. The Kestrels succeeded 

 in hatching out four young, but the Carrion-Crows were less 

 fortunate, as the hen was shot before the eggs were hatched, and 

 I found her dead under the tree containing the nest. Two 

 pairs of Owls hatched out their young successfully, the third 

 having their eggs taken. The latter pair had their nest, if 

 such it can be called, at the bottom of a hollow tree, the 

 entrance being about three feet from the eggs. Once, on climb- 

 ing the tree, I found the two birds asleep on the eggs, and it 

 was not until I actually caught hold of them that they woke up ! 

 The nest then contained three eggs, but these were afterwards 

 taken. Another pair had their nest in a kind of tunnel branch- 

 ing off from the middle of a hollow tree. At the bottom of the 

 tree there was a large hole. Once, on approaching the tree, I 

 heard a loud shuffling noise inside when, all of sudden, four 

 fully-fledged young Owls came out of the hole at the bottom of 

 the tree and flew leisurely away. I hope these Owls will return 

 next year, when I hope to make further observations. 



A pair of Barn-Owls breed regularly in a hollow tree in 

 Llandaff Fields, although hundreds of people pass the tree 

 every day. 



The Sparrow-Hawk, although decreasing every year, still 

 breeds regularly in certain localities. 



The Bing-Dove is exceedingly common and breeds regularly. 



The Wild Duck is very common, and I have found its nest 

 far away from any water. The Moorhen is the commonest 

 water bird in our district, and it breeds near almost any 

 pond. 



The Binged Plover and Oystercatcher breed at suitable 

 places along the coast. 



The Lapwing is very common, and I have found as many as 

 twenty-six eggs in one afternoon, all within the radius of a 

 mile. 



The Herring-Gull is the commonest Gull in this district, and 

 in the winter large flocks come to Llandaff Fields and Cardiff 



