NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. 287 



Harcourt ; as a resident it is decidedly rare with us. Two 

 examples of the Egyptian Goose were shot near Cowley about the 

 middle of the month; they had doubtless strayed from some 

 ornamental water ; though Mr. Darbey, from whom we received 

 the information, could hear of none missing at that time, and 

 found no marks of confinement on them. A white variety of the 

 Swallow, a young bird, was shot at Hampton Doyle early in the 

 month. 



August. — A female Wheatear was seen by A. near Banbury 

 on the 13th; may possibly have nested in the district, migrants 

 being seldom seen until the first or second week in September. 

 At the close of summer the disastrous effect upon Swallows and 

 Martins of the cold stormy weather in May could be clearly 

 traced in the small numbers to be seen in the air after the second 

 broods had flown, and when in an ordinary year they should have 

 swarmed. 



September. — When shooting near Nell Bridge this month, 

 we noticed a large nest placed in one of a row of four trees in the 

 meadows. The tenant told us that a pair of Herons came and 

 built it just before haymaking time (end of June), and that being 

 disturbed when the grass was cut, they left, but returned when 

 the fields were quiet again ; no young seem to have been hatched. 

 There is no heronry in the neighbourhood, but the birds are con- 

 stantly to be seen about there. The first Snipe was seen and shot 

 there on the 18th. The Common Sandpiper was observed on the 

 Cherwell near Nell Bridge on the 15th. A Hooded Crow was 

 shot at the beginning of the month at Oxford ; this is an early 

 date for it to arrive in the county, and, considering that examples 

 were observed up to the end of March, it seems possible that the 

 species may have bred in the Midlands this year. A specimen of 

 the Kedshank was shot at Chorton, near Islip, in the early part 

 of the month. An interesting variety of the Corn Bunting was 

 shot at Marsden ; it had evidently been entirely white, and was 

 killed in the middle of its autumn moult while reverting to its 

 normal plumage ; a few normal feathers showed on the breast, 

 and some of the new primaries had appeared ; the majority of the 

 new tail-feathers had also come in ; the old primaries and rectrices 

 were very much worn, and quite "hairy"; it is now in M.'s col- 

 lection. A white variety of the Linnet tinged with buff was also 

 shot during this month at Hinksey, and is now in M.'s collection. 



