NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. 341 



several days, and I hear from people who frequent the water side 

 that now they do not see one where a few weeks ago dozens could 

 be seen." He had then nine Herons in his shop ; Mr. Wyatt 

 received two or three about the same time. 



15th. Examined an adult Razorbill which had been shot at 

 Wroxton the day before, a long way inland. 



17th. One Snipe in the warm ditch. A "charm" of half-a- 

 dozen Goldfinches feeding on seeds of the alder at Bloxham. 



18th. Heard to my surprise this afternoon the spring note of 

 the Great Titmouse. The temperature did not rise above freezing 

 point the whole day, and when we looked at a thermometer one 

 yard from the ground in a sheltered place, shortly afterwards, the 

 mercury stood at 28°. 



19th. News from Mr. Darbey that he had received a Whooper, 

 which was shot about the 10th inst (see Feb. 6th). 



21st. A male Barred Woodpecker was brought to me from 

 Banbury. 



23rd. A Robin sang for the first time since the frost began at 

 the end of November. News from Mr. M. F. Melliar that he saw 

 the day before on the Hood at Bertmoor, North Aston, fifteen 

 Wild Swans. 



24th. News from Mr. W. W. Fowler that he had observed 

 a few Bramblings with Chaffinches in rick-yards near Oxford. 



26th. Sky Lark singing ; a few seem to have returned within 

 the last few days. 



30th. Bright, sunny, and very warm. I went to see the Wild 

 Swans in the Cherwell Valley near North Aston, and found five 

 in the large low-lying meadow known as Clifton Big Meadow; 

 they were standing in shallow flood, feeding at intervals. Taking 

 a considerable detour, we approached them along a bank of higher 

 ground between the river and the flood, and got within 150 yards 

 before they rose. As we had taken care to approach down wind, 

 with the sun at our backs, the Swans had to come towards us on 

 rising, and passed us in single file at about eighty yards distance or 

 less, and only just topped the willows as they crossed the Cherwell, 

 uttering their loud trumpet-like calls ; they pitched on Bestmoor 

 in deep water, where we left them when it was growing dark, their 

 great white forms showing up on the water against the sunset 

 glow. We saw a good many Mallards and Ducks, and heard at 

 night the call of Teal and the " whew, whew " of one or two 



