ADDENDA. 



Tree Sparrow (p. 86). I have recently examined an albino 

 Tree Sparrow. The beak and leg-s are pinkish white^ irides a 

 rather dark pink. At first sig-ht the whole pliimag-e appears 

 to be of a dirty white ; but on closer examination, the chestnut 

 of the crown, as well as the markings of the throat, cheeks, 

 and upper parts, can be clearly traced in very faint shades of 

 dull chestnut on a pure white ground. It was one of a brood 

 of otherwise normal young taken from a hole in the wall of 

 a cattle hovel in this parish, three years ago, and since then 

 has lived in a cage in a cottage at Bodicote. Its owner was 

 under the impression that it was a House Sparrow, but by its 

 distinctive markings, as well as by its slender form, I was able 

 to identify it as of the rarer species. Albino varieties of the 

 Tree Sparrow are rare. 



House Sparrow (p. 87). In some parishes it was formerly 

 the custom for the Churchwardens to pay head-money for 

 Sparrows, as well as for other vermin. The Bloxham Town 

 Charges book for 181 8 contains the following entry: — 

 'March loth. Paid Churchwardens for 90 dozen of Sparrows 

 £1 2,8. 6(1.' A Sparrow Club, which existed in the parish 

 forty years ago, has been revived in the present spring, and 

 another was established in Mid-Oxon last year. 



Cuckoo (p. 113). The Cuckoo seldom reaches North Oxon 

 before the last week in April. In twelve years, 1878 to 1889, 



p 



