208 THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 



Nowadays the visits of the Smew to Oxfordshire are of rare 

 occurrence, a remark which unfortunately appHes to many of 

 the wading-- and water-birds upon our list ; the only specimen 

 which has come under my notice of recent years is a female 

 which was purchased by the Rev. B. D^O. Aplin, in December, 

 1882, in Oxford market, where it had been sent up with other 

 wildfowl from Otmoor. 



