4 Oxford: Autumn and Winter. 



college system, which has had so much influence 

 on Oxford in other ways, and the control exercised 

 by the University over the government of the 

 town, have had much to do with this, and the 

 only adverse element even at the present day is 

 the gradual but steady extension of building to 

 the north, south, and west. A glance at a map 

 of Oxford will show how large a space in the 

 centre of the town is occupied by college gardens, 

 all well-timbered and planted, and if to these are 

 added Christchurch Meadow, Magdalen Park, the 

 Botanic Garden, and the Parks, together with 

 the adjoining fields, it will be seen that there 

 must be abundant opportunity for observations, and 

 some real reason for an attempt to record them. 



Since the appearance in the Oxford Magazine, 

 in May, 1884, of a list of "The Birds of Oxford 

 City," I have been so repeatedly questioned 

 about birds that have been seen or heard, that it 

 is evident there are plenty of possessors of eyes 

 and ears, ready and able to make use of them. 

 There are many families of children growing up 

 in " the Parks " who may be glad to learn that life 

 in a town such as Oxford is, does not exclude 



