370 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



bay on the head and tail coverts so brilliant, the grey of the nape 

 so pure, and the steel blue or purple and white of the wings so 

 intense and pure ; a lovely " blossom pink," as Meyer call it, on 

 the breast. Two were shot at Sibford that month, on the 8th and 

 12th respectively. On the 21st a hen bird was seen feeding on 

 haws in a bush at Milcombe. On the 28th I heard that many 

 frequented the grounds at Williamscote. A pair were seen on 

 the 25th, apparently feeding on the berries of an Irish juniper, 

 but generally they were seen in holly trees, on which there were 

 still plenty of berries. A male was picked up dead on the 25th, 

 having evidently flown against a greenhouse. At the end of the 

 month one was shot at Handborough, and three others were 

 reported as daily visiting a garden there about the third week in 

 March ('Oxford Times'). The same newspaper (March 31st) 

 contained a note to the effect that about a dozen had been 

 observed feeding on holly berries in the grounds of the County 

 Asylum at Littlemore. The observer had seen none there before, 

 and stated that only two were males. Some of them were easily 

 trapped, and were tame in a cage. They fought a good deal 

 among themselves when at liberty, and a caged female killed a 

 male Chaffinch. Two shot at Witney, and three seen at the 

 Mount, Oxford, were also reported in the ' Oxford Times ' about 

 this date ; also one seen in the " Parks," Oxford, in March. A 

 male and two females were observed at Williamscote on the 1st 

 of March ; and on the 28th a pair were seen at Bodicote. 



About the 2nd of April a Hawfinch was shot at Adderbury. 

 They still frequented the grounds at Williamscote in the middle 

 of that month ; five were seen on the 14th ; and the next day 

 two males were fighting in the garden. About this time, or 

 rather earlier, a number came every morning to feed in and 

 under a remarkably prolific holly tree (still bearing a quantity of 

 berries) in Bloxham. Eight were counted on the 15th, and a few 

 were seen the next day. They were observed to fight very much 

 among themselves. Where they passed the day was not dis- 

 covered, for they always departed about nine o'clock, when the 

 men came about the garden again from breakfast. 



After this date I heard no more of the Hawfinch, and I 

 believe that the greater part of them at all events left the district. 



So far from the birds being found breeding with us in larger 

 numbers than usual during the summer of 1890, the only nest I 



