288 MIGRATORY BIRDS OF BODICOTE, OXFORDSHIRE. 



fore, will not be included here. Neither do I intend to make mention of 

 any save those which may be reasonably expected to visit us each year. 



Some of those that I do mention may be found even to have bred 

 with us occasionally ; and in the case of the Wild Duck there is no 

 doubt but that it does so annually in small numbers. In fact, it is very 

 hard to lay down any rule which will mark out the winter visitors. The 

 only way appears to be to take those which are usually and popularly 

 known as such. 



The first on our list is — 



Falco cesalon, (Gmelin,) Merlin, one or more of which are procured 

 every season, from Septernter onwards. 



Otus brachyotus, (Forster,) Short-eared Owl, occurs rather more 

 frequently than the last. November is the usual month of its arrival. 



Turdus pilaris, (Linnosus,) Fieldfare. — In some years we have 

 enormous flocks of this species, in others very few. They are usually 

 most plentiful at the beginning of a frost, when there has been hard 

 weather in the north. It is only when a good season has well ripened the 

 haws that they resort in any numbers to feed in the hedges ; at other 

 times, when from a cold and wet summer the berries are hard, dry, and 

 shrivelled, they seldom touch them. Hollyberries are a great attrac- 

 tion, frequently bringing them close in to the houses. During mild 

 weather the flocks are found feeding in the meadows. A long-continued 

 frost with snow drives them southward ; many, however, perish. This 

 bird arrives usually rather after the next, and I have seen them as 

 late as the middle of May. 



Turdus iliacus, (Linnaeus,) Redwing, . occurs in smaller numbers than 

 the last, but is still a plentiful species. It is, I believe, more insectivorous 

 than the Felt, and thus suffers more from frost and snow. They 

 generally arrive about the second week in October. 



Motacilla boarula, (Latham,) Grey Wagtail, visits us late in the 

 autumn or early in winter, at which time it may be found not very 

 uncommonly along the streams, especially where the banks are shelving. 

 It has bred, I believe. 



FringiUa montifringilla, (Linnaeus,) Mountain Finch, comes to us in 

 some numbers, but irregularly. 



FringiUa spinas, (Linnasus,) Siskin. — Small parties of this little bird 

 may often be seen feeding in the tops of the alder trees, in company 

 with the next species. I don't see them much before November. In the 

 spring of 1879 I observed a few as late in the year as the 20th of April. 



Linota rufescens, (Vieillot,) Lesser Eedpole. — More numerous than the 

 last. Its habits are very similar. 



Loxia curvirostra, (Linnaeus,) Crossbill. — Only a rare and occasional 

 visitor, generally in small flocks. They are usually found in fir planta- 

 tions. 



Corvus comix, (Linnaeus,) Hooded Crow. — A rare autumn visitant, 

 most frequently arriving in October. When it does occur there are 

 generally several together. 



