Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/142

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108
THE ZOOLOGIST

Great Northern Diver.—Mr. Coward found the dried remains of one in winter dress in Abersoch Harbour. I have no doubt that Divers are not uncommonly to be seen off this coast. I once saw two Great Northern Divers off Barmouth in May, and at that season the Red-throated Diver is not at all uncommon there. One morning I saw as many as nine feeding in the shallows.

I add some notes on Lleyn birds already recorded:—

Peregrine Falcon.—I ascertained the position of the eyrie of another pair which breed annually in Western Lleyn. Mr. Coward saw last year the birds at a previously-recorded eyrie.

Merlin.—Seen by Messrs. Coward and Oldham last year in May at Cilan.

Red-backed Shrike.—On May 23rd, 1901, I found a pair, with a nest and two eggs, in a bramble-bush on the cliffs about half a mile west of Aberdaron; an interesting extension of its known range in this direction; almost in sight of Ireland, where this Shrike is practically unknown.

Mistle-Thrush and House-Martin.—We all three agreed that these birds were more common last year than we had previously known them; the former seems fairly common.

Grasshopper-Warbler.—We heard in the marsh at Abersoch.

Goldfinch.—I noticed at Llanbedrogg, and Messrs. Coward and Oldham at Abersoch and Boduan.

Chough.—Messrs. Coward and Oldham observed it at an inaccessible spot on the north coast.

Whimbrel.—Evidently not uncommon on the spring migration. I saw two alight on St. Tudwal's Island, and several others passing over the district.

Purple Sandpiper.—Reported by the lighthouse-keeper as present on St. Tudwal's Island again this May—about the 24th.

Lesser Tern.—I saw a pair in Hell's Mouth Bay, and another at Abersoch; and Mr. Oldham reported a score in Pwllheli Harbour on June 2nd.

Tern (Common or Arctic).—One or two seen in Pwllheli Harbour on May 29th by Messrs. Coward and Oldham.

Heron.—I am told that there is a heronry near Pwllheli. Herons are generally to be seen in Abersoch Marsh; on May 26th two rose from the marsh, one of which held in its bill a wriggling eel about a foot and a half long.

Shag.—More breed on the islands (where they are quite safe) than