Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/523

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THE ZOOLOGIST


No. 713.—November, 1900.


THE BIRDS of LLEYN, WEST CARNARVONSHIRE.

By O.V. Aplin, F.L.S.

The western part of the promontory of Carnarvonshire known as Lleyn is almost devoid of the mountainous features so characteristic of the eastern and northern parts of the county. After leaving the group of mountains lying south of Clynnog, and the triple-headed Yr Eifl, or "The Rivals" (the highest point of which rises no higher than 1849 ft.), and going westward, we see no more than occasional isolated semi-conical mountains (with supplementary hills) rising from the undulating plain. Of these Carn Bodfean and Carn Fadryn (1221 ft.) are the most remarkable. But the Rhiw hills, at the north-west end of the sweep of Hell's Mouth, cutting off the extreme west end of the promontory, and many other lesser ridges, break up the country; while the coast headlands grow bolder as we go westward, and reach their greatest height in Mynydd Annelog, a little to the north of the land's-end of North Wales, and Graig ddu and Penarfynydd, which run out from the Rhiw hills. The rushing mountain torrent is consequently wanting, and the little rivers, although quick in places, and clear as to their waters, flow often quite sluggishly through reeds and flags and lush green marshes, haunted by Snipes and Moor-hens and numerous broods of Wild Ducks, rather than by the Dipper. I cannot say that the Dipper is not found in the western parts of Lleyn; but, though I looked

Zool. 4th ser. vol. IV., November, 1900.
2 l