Welsh Journals

then some wild ones of the same species have made their appearance. They were seen on Oct. 13th, as were likewise a male Pochard, which was very tame, some Tufted Ducks, Coots, and Moorhens. On November 3rd, large flocks of Pochard and Tufted Ducks had arrived, mostly in immature plumage a Teal, a single Shoveller in immature plumage and a female Golden-eye. On the Llanishen Reservoir a large flock of several hundreds of Tufted Duck and Pochard were observed. At Talygarn the appearance of Wigeon has been noted earlier. NESTING. A Raven nested in a tree on Flemingston Moors in March, 1900, and the hen bird was shot off the nest. The nest was left alone, and on being searched on July 7th, 1901, was found to be a huge structure lined with cow-hair. There were two eggs in it, intact, but of course much addled. A Blackbird built twice in a well near Pendoylan six feet down. Two nests of the Redstart were found at Coedarhydyglyn on May 17th. Stockdoves were building in holes in Cardiff Castle walls on June 9th. A Missel-Thrush built in a hole in a wall at Llanmaes at a distance of about three feet from the ground. The reason for this singular place was that the birds had already built three nests in the trees around, and had each time been disturbed by Magpies. Three young birds were successfully reared in the nest in the wall. VARIATION IN PLUMAGE. A light cinnamon-coloured Thrush was shot at Cowbridge on January 19th. A Ring Ouzel was shot at Lavernock on September 19th. It was pied about the head and neck, a point of some interest as this bird is not subject to variation in plumage. HYBRID. There has been reared in the pigeon-house at the Castle Gardens, Cardiff, a hybrid between the Wood Pigeon and the Domestic Pigeon, the male parent being the wild pigeon. In size and in walk it resembles the male bird, and it shows part of the white ring on the neck. The general plumage exhibits marked characteristics of both parents. INCREASE IN NUMBER. Unusual numbers of the Missel-thrush have been seen this autumn, flocks of as many as thirty being noticed flying about. Mr. Pole-Evans records that Turtle-doves have been more numerous than ever this year at Llanmaes, a locality where this species a few years ago was distinctly rare. Also that Nightingales returned to their old haunts near Cowbridge, and are thought to be increasing. It is pleasing to hear that in the same district the Goldfinch has decidedly increased during the last few years. A Nightingale flew into the Blenheim Arms, Frederick Street, Cardiff, on September 4th. It was put into a cage and died a few days afterwards. It was probably on migration.