220 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



2nd. Two Grey Wagtails seen by my nephew by the brook 

 between Bodicote and Adderbury. This bird was fairly plentiful 

 before the frost of 1890-91, and I believe was at that time 

 established as a breeding species in the district ; but it has been 

 very scarce since. 



11th. The Rev. J. Goodwin reported large flocks of Bramb- 

 lings at Milcombe lately. In the frost some came into the stack- 

 yards, and some were shot. Wyatt, the taxidermist at Banbury, 

 had one or two. Many Fieldfares were shot in the frost — 

 thirteen at a double shot. Redwings were very scarce. I had 

 not seen more than two or three all the season. Mr. Warde 

 Fowler, writing on the 19th, said : — " Like you, I see only Field- 

 fares here now ; no Redwings. But just before the frost there 

 were vast numbers of Redwings in the meadows here (Kingham). 

 As soon as the snow was on the ground both species vanished 

 utterly." 



16th. At Sarsden I learned that Hawfinches breed there 

 regularly. The " white " Moorhen, sent to the Zoological Gar- 

 dens thence some years ago, was of a silver-grey colour. Another 

 similar bird occurred about eight years ago, but wandered in a 

 frost, and was probably shot. Red-legged Partridges are nume- 

 rous there now, and I handled a remarkably heavy young cock 

 this day. I saw a Rook's nest, built last autumn ; the young were 

 actually hatched, but probably perished in the frost. Mr. Warde 

 Fowler about this date reported a female Goosander shot on Port 

 Meadow on the 15th. 



February. 



4th. Warm stormy weather has prevailed from the third 

 week in January. 



9th. Some Partridges still unpaired. 



11th. Furious gale from the S.W. at night. 



14th. Blackbird opened song. 



15th. Chaffinches singing. 



17th. Rain from 11 p.m. last night to same time to-night 

 the best rain we have had for two or three years. 



19th. I examined, at Mr. Wyatt's shop, a pair of Long-eared 

 Owls, shot at Cornbury Park a month ago. 



26th. Mr. Fowler about this time noticed very many Red- 

 wings in Christ Church Meadows, Oxford, and one Brambling 

 among Chaffinches. 



