2538 Birds. 



of the kingdom, and is also occasionally met with after it has partly 

 assumed its summer plumage- 

 Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus). In the winter of 

 1834 a red-necked phalarope was found, in an exhausted state, on 

 Shotover Hill, near Oxford. It was killed by a stroke from a riding- 

 whip as it attempted to escape, and afterwards taken to Mr. P. For- 

 rest, of that city, by whom it was preserved. Although the foregoing 

 is the only instance of the capture of the red-necked phalarope in this 

 part of the country, yet, as its habits would render it without doubt a 

 winter visitor, whenever it should chance to migrate so far south as 

 Oxfordshire, it does not seem referrible to any class w r ith so much 

 propriety as the present. 



Gray-legged Goose (Anser ferus). This species is always common 

 during the winter months, and in some years unusually abundant. 

 The bean goose (A. segetum), bernicle goose {A. leucopsis)^ and brent 

 goose {A. Brenta), also visit us, but less frequently. 



White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). Appears in small flocks, 

 but is an uncertain visitor, and only found in the severest seasons. 



Egyptian Goose (Anser Egyptiacus). A specimen of this bird was 

 killed on a large piece of water at Sh els well, in this county, in 1822. 

 — R. Another was shot on the lake in Blenheim park, by the Duke 

 of Marlborough's gamekeeper, in December, 1847. Also on the Ken- 

 net, at Thatchem, in Berkshire, January, 1795. — Dr. T. 



Canada Goose (Anser Canadensis). In February, 1838, a fine male 

 of this species was shot on Port Meadow, near Oxford ; and in the 

 winter of 1845 another was killed on Otmoor, about two miles from 

 this place. 



Hooper (Cygnus ferus). In the severe winter of 1837-8 great num- 

 bers of wild swans visited this part of the kingdom. On the morning 

 of the 6th of February a flock of fifteen made a descent upon the 

 kitchen garden of these premises, evidently with the intention of at- 

 tacking a bed of cabbages, from which the snow had been thawed. 

 The appearance of these noble birds when only a few feet from the 

 ground, with the sun shining on their dazzling plumage, and all within 

 an area of fifty yards diameter, was one of the finest it is possible to 

 conceive. They did not, however, settle, but continued to wheel 

 round the spot for some minutes, until a shot was fired, which severely 

 wounded one of them : they then quickly left the place. The wounded 

 bird, having separated from the flock, was observed to sink into a 

 ditch at no great distance, where, being unable to rise on the wing 

 again, he was easily captured. 



