VOL. XV.] NOTES 211 



December. It would be interesting to know on what these 

 belated birds feed, and also whether they ever manage to 

 leave these shores, or finally succumb to the rigours of the 

 English winter. D. Percy Harrison. 



[Although Cuckoos have been recorded on several occasions 

 in winter no specimens appear to have been obtained to con- 

 firm the identification so that it is desirable that the fact 

 should be incontestably proved by the shooting of a specimen, 

 when opportunity offers, and the food might then be investi- 

 gated. — Eds.] 



ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN OXFORDSHIRE. 



On September 5th, 1921, a Rough-legged Buzzard {Buteo I. 

 lagopus) was shot by a keeper at Taynton, near Burford, close 

 to the Gloucestershire boundary. A pair of these birds had 

 been seen in the district for some weeks previously, but the 

 survivor disappeared after the death of its companion. In 

 the autumn of 1920 two others were also seen about the 

 place, but managed to escape the usual fate. For this informa- 

 tion I am indebted to Mr. C. B. Chambers, who kindly investi- 

 gated the case. Only four occurrences of this species (between 

 1825 and 1888) are recorded in O. V. Aplin's Birds of 

 Oxfordshire. F. C. R. Jourdain. 



HEN-HARRIERS IN OXFORDSHIRE AND SUSSEX. 

 T0W.4RDS the end of the year 1919 a female or immature Hen- 

 Harrier {Circus c. cyaneus) appeared in the neighbourhood 

 of Oxford, It was first noticed near Waterperr\^ on December 

 12th' and again on the 14th and 17th and was last reported 

 from Shotover on January 24th, 1921. This bird apparently 

 escaped with its life, but a very large female was killed on 

 Otmoor on December 19th, 1921. Mr. G. Tickner of Oxford 

 has kindly supplied me with the above details. The steady 

 and persistent slaughter of these birds on the Berkshire downs 

 and in the adjacent counties every winter must result even- 

 tually in the extermination or at any rate, serious diminution, 

 of this species in its breeding haunts in the Orkneys and Outer 

 Hebrides, when it will probably be ascribed to quite different 

 causes. It would be well if more attention were paid to this 

 aspect of protection. F. C. R. Jourdain. 



On November 24th, 192 1, on the Downs near Wilmington 

 Hill, a female or juvenile Hen-Harrier {Circus cyaneus) was 

 put up from the ground some 30 yards away. A strong N.E. 

 wind, blowing over the crest of the Downs prevented the bird 

 moving away rapidly. An excellent view was obtained 



