54 Oxford: Spring and Early Summer, 



to Oxford in great numbers, because their proper 

 homes, the hedge-rows, are naturally not common 

 objects of a town. In the country the greater 

 Whitethroats are swarming this year (1885), and 

 in most years they are the most abundant of our 

 eight warblers ; and the smaller bird, less seen 

 and less showy, makes his presence felt in almost 

 every lane and meadow by the brilliancy of his 

 note. 



Where shall we find a hedge near at hand, 

 where we may learn to distinguish the two birds ? 

 We left the Blackcaps and Garden-warblers at 

 the upper end of the Park ; we shall still have a 

 chance of listening to them if we take the walk 

 towards Parsons' Pleasure, and here in the thorn- 

 hedge on the right hand of the path, we shall find 

 both the Whitethroats. 1 As we walk along, a 

 rough grating sound, something like the noise 

 of a diminutive corn-crake, is heard on the other 

 side of the hedge stopping when we stop, and 



1 The spring cf 1886 saw this hedge deserted by both 

 species ; the result of an outbreak of lawn-tennis in the adjoin- 

 ing field. They were lucky enough to find new quarters not 

 far off. 



