2532 Birds. 



charms of that delightful season. At present we shall confine our- 

 selves to an enumeration of the species, amounting to thirty, which 

 usually visit this part of the kingdom, and refer your readers to the 

 conclusion of the general list for the dates of their migrations. 



Hobby (Falco subbuteo). Willow warbler {Sylvia trochilus). 



Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio). Chiff-chaff {Sylvia Hippolais). 



Spotted flycatcher {Muscicapa grisola). Ray's wagtail {Mptacilla Jlava). 



Pied flycatcher {Muscicapa atricapilla). Tree pipit {Anthus arboreus). 



Redstart {Phcenicura ruticilla). Wryneck {Yunx torquilla). 



Whinchat {Saxicola rubetra). Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus). 



Grasshopper warbler {Salicaria Locustella). Swallow {Hirundo rustica). 



Sedge warbler {Salicaria Phragmitis). Martin {Hirundo urbica). 



Reed warbler {Salicaria arundinacea). Sand martin {Hirundo riparia). 



Nightingale {Philomela luscinia). Common swift {Cypselus murarius). 



Blackcap {Curruca atricapilla). Nightjar {Caprimulgus Europaus). 



Garden warbler {Curruca hortensis). Turtle dove {Columba turtur). 



Common whitethroat {Curruca cinerea). Common quail {Coturnix vulgaris). 



Lesser whitethroat {Curruca garrula). Great plover {CEdicnemus crepitans). 



Wood warbler {Sylvia sibillatrix). Landrail {Crex pratensis). 



Hobby [Falco subbuteo). We have often succeeded in keeping 

 birds of this species through the winter, in the open air, and at liberty. 

 When taken young they soon become very familiar. A male which 

 we had reared from the nest lived in the garden four years, without 

 appearing at all affected by the cold weather : he was at last, much to 

 our regret, killed by accident. In May, 1834, a beautiful pair, male 

 and female, were caught by the legs in a common vermin-trap, at the 

 same instant, in Weston Wood : they were luckily uninjured, and 

 lived some time after in confinement. 



Pied Flycatcher [Muscicapa atricapilla). The pied flycatcher is 

 not often found in this neighbourhood. On the 23rd of April, 1848, 

 I saw a fine male in Middleton Park : he was not at all shy, but al- 

 lowed me to approach several times within a few yards. — A. M. 

 A pair in our collection were shot near Oxford a few years since, and 

 it has also been observed near Fringford, in this county, by Mr. 

 Roundell. 



Whinchat [Saxicola rubetra). The name of the whinchat was in- 

 advertently inserted in the list of our resident birds ; but as we can 

 find no note of its having been seen in this neighbourhood during 

 winter, it does not appear to have any connexion with that class. 



Grasshopper Warbler [Salicaria Locustella). This elegant bird is 

 by no means rare here ; but from its shyness and singular habit of 



