WINTER NOTES FROM CORSICA. 371 



heard of in the county was taken at Sarsden in June. A Haw- 

 finch, seen between Woodstock and Glympton on the 1st of June, 

 was also doubtless breeding. 



Hawfinches seem to have been as scarce with us during the 

 past winter (1890 — 91) as they were numerous the season before. 

 I did not see a single specimen at the bird-stuffers, and did not 

 hear of any being seen in the county until March 11th, when I 

 was asked to name a bird which had flown against a window in 

 Banbury, and had been picked up in a half-stunned condition. 

 This was a fine male, which had fully assumed the blue bill of 

 spring. 



The Hawfinch seems rather given to flying against glass; 

 another instance has been already noted above ; and I examined 

 a male which had flown against a window at Broughton on the 

 7th of May, 1889. 



The males which I examined in the flesh during the im- 

 migration had the legs and feet pale flesh colour, with a shade 

 of brown ; the legs of a female bird I noted as very pale brown 

 with a strong pink tinge, i. e., a little browner than those of 

 the males. 



It is worth recording that in 1889 there was a very small 

 crop of fruit on the hawthorns, although the hollies were 

 tolerably well furnished. On the other hand 1890 was a great 

 berry year, and the oaks, beech, and alders, carried a good crop, 

 although apples and stone fruits were scarce. 



WINTEB NOTES FEOM COBSICA. 

 By James Backhouse. 



During a few weeks spent last winter in the island of Corsica, 

 it was my endeavour, as far as possible, to give to the birds of 

 that charming little country special attention, both in the field 

 and by the daily examination of the Ajaccio market. 



The severity of the past winter on the Continent will long be 

 remembered with a shudder in the south as well as in the more 

 northerly countries : such intense cold in the Italian Riviera that 

 the oranges fell off the trees by scores and hundreds, and the 

 palm trees and eucalyptus drooped their leaves as though 



