NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. liiSS 



Christchuvch Meadow on the 13th. Two days after, one was shot 

 about six miles from Oxford, and a third was killed near Banbury 

 on the 30th; this is an usually late date for them to linger in 

 Oxfordshire. A Great Crested Grebe in full nuptial dress was 

 killed on the Isis at Sandford on the 7th ; they were delayed by 

 the ice from returning to Clattercutt Reservoir until the 28th ; in 

 mild seasons they appear a month earlier. Tufted Ducks having 

 been frozen out since the early part of January (the ice bearing 

 skaters up to the middle of this month), a male and female put in 

 an appearance on Clattercutt on the 28th ; they were evidently 

 paired, the drake closely following his partner with an air of 

 proud proprietorship ; and it was hoped that they might remain 

 to breed, but they disappeared shortly after. 



April. — A male Ring Ouzel was shot on Headington Hill 

 early in the month. A pair of Nuthatches were observed by A. 

 on the 14th, carrying nesting materials into a hole about thirty- 

 five feet up in the trunk of an elm tree on Bloxham Grove, from 

 which he had eggs more than twelve years before ; the clutch of 

 seven fresh eggs were taken at the end of the first week in May. 

 Mr. W. Fowler observed a pair of Pied Flycatchers in a field 

 studded with trees at Kingham on the 24th. On the same day a 

 beautiful exam|)le of the Lesser Tern was shot close to the barges 

 on the river at Oxford. One Black Tern was shot, on the 30th, 

 on the canal above Banbury. On the night of the 24th a Night- 

 ingale flew against a window in Banbury, and was picked up dead. 

 A Hoopoe was seen at Elsfield on the 26th. 



May. — We are able to record the third occurrence of the 

 White Wagtail in the county, M. having observed one on the 

 river-bank above Oxford on the 4th. A specimen of the Common 

 Sandpiper was observed on the bank at Clattercutt on the 1st, 

 but had disappeared the next day. On the river above Oxford 

 four were seen on the 4th ; they make but a very short stay with 

 us at this season. The Turtle Dove was observed at Great 

 Bourton on the 8th by both recorders ; this is an early date for 

 its arrival. Hirundines suffered greatly from the stormy weather 

 in the second week {vide Zool. 1886, p. 300). An adult Black 

 Tern was shot on the river at Oxford on the 7th. A female 

 Whimbrel was killed at Thame on the Sist ; although of not very 

 uncommon occurrence upon the spring migration, it is extremely 

 rare in autumn. On the 17th a curious light variety of the 



