PREFACE THE ensuing pages are not meant to be a scientific or comprehensive work on British Birds, but simply records of. observations and sketches made in the course of many rambles amid their haunts. It will be seen that our lines have fallen in fair ground with regard to some of our rarer species notably the Kite, now almost extinct, the Buzzard and Raven, which are both rapidly becoming so, the Crested Grebe, Pied Flycatcher, and others. For such advantageous opportunities we are deeply indebted to that ardent and excellent naturalist and sportsman, Colonel Evan Thomas, as well as to his brother, Mr. E. D. Thomas, and his nephew, Mr. A. Thomas. To another excellent brother-naturalist, Mr. J. Williams-Vaughan, we also owe our obligations, nor shall we readily forget his great kindness in allowing us the run of his house, whilst he himself was away, in order that we might follow up our studies. Many thanks also are due to rus cousin, Mr. A. Gynne-Vaughan, another good all-round sportsman, as well as to Rev. D. E. Owen for much valuable information and help also to Mr. P. S. Phillips, Captain G. C. Beauchamp, Captain C. H. Wood, Mr. R. Gilbert, and the following keepers, W. Watkins, Enoch Thomas, and W. Webb. Mr. Pike, who is associated in this work, is already known to the bird-loving public, and he has spared no pains in getting the best possible photographs. At his own request, I may add that, except on a very mild scale, he is not an egg-collector, and may with safety be shown the haunts of our rarer birds. I personally took him to the nest-haunt of the Kite, Buzzard, and Raven, as well as other good things but I feel confident that he will in no way abuse the trust reposed in him, he having promised to keep the localities a dead secret. I am much pleased with the two photographs taken by Mr. P. B. Abery, the Builth photographer, and they do him much credit. We shall always be glad to hear from bird-lovers, and hope that they will report to us the occurrence of any rare bird which they may be fortunate enough to observe. J. A. WALPOLEBOND. THE BUNGALOW, TYN-Y-GRAIG, NEAR BUILTH, BRECONSHIRR July, ..1903. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A WEEK IN THE HILLS . . . .1 II. SOME WELL-KNOWN FEATHERED OUTLAWS . 19 III. WITH THE RAVENS IN WALES . . -39 IV. SOME BIRDS OF THE STREAM . . 55 V. A SUMMER WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES, 1902 . 79 VI. WITH THE SEA BIRDS AT TENBY . . 221 VII. SOME RARE BIRDS IN THE PRINCIPALITY . 232 IX. WITH THE PEREGRINE AND MERLIN IN BRECONSHIRE .... 249 VIII. SOME ROUGH NOTES . . . 240 X. IN THE NEST HAUNT OF THE KITE REGALIS 1903 . . . .259 XI. OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS . 280 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.