GREENSHANK — CURLEW. 163 



which was shot at Bensington^ and another, preserved in the 

 Trout Inn, near Bampton, was procured at Radeot Bridge 

 higher up the river some years ago. The Rev. F. O. Morris 

 records the occurrence of others near Bampton and Brig-ht- 

 hampton. [History of British Birds.) t »^' 



\ *"! -^ 



THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. ^ 



Limosa wgocephala. 

 The Black -tailed Godwit, at the present day only a visitor 

 to our coasts on migration, though formerly nesting in the 

 English Fens, has rarely occurred in Oxfordshire. The Messrs. 

 Matthews record two or three specimens shot in the neighbour- 

 hood of Weston-on-the- Green, and also, on the authority of 

 Mr. Roundell, one in summer plumage procured near Fring- 

 fordj a few years previous to 1849. [Zoologist, p. 2602.) 



THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT. \ U |. 



Limosa lapponka. 

 The Bar-tailed Godwit is a common visitor to our coasts on 

 migration. In Mid-Oxon, according to the ]\Iessrs. Matthews, 

 it was often seen at the date they wrote their account of the 

 birds of this county, but it is certainly much rarer nowadays, 

 no instance of its occurrence having come under my notice in 

 recent years. A specimen in the University Museum, procured 

 on Port Meadow, was presented by the late Mr. A. E. Knox, 

 and Mr. CM. Prior records that tlu*ee have been shot in the 

 north of the county. {Banlinry Guardian.) 



THE CURLEW. V^\ 



Numenius arquata. 

 The Curlew is an occasional and not uncommon visitor in 

 spring and autumn, less frequently in winter, being usually 

 seen in small flocks. Of recent occurrences may be mentioned : 

 one shot from a flock at Deddington, in the winter of 1879 ; 

 eighteen seen on Port Meadow, 26th November, 1885 (A. H. 

 Macpherson); four seen at Kingham, 12th March, 1886 (W. 



M 2 



