ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 11 



1891, and had not moulted in the summer of 1892. The sides 

 of the head are tinged with brown, not with rufous as in my 

 male. Plumage of the upper parts has a worn appearance. 



25th. — On high ground near Tadmarton Heath, late in the 

 afternoon, found many Meadow-Pipits on stubble and among 

 " seeds." Three brace out of twelve and a half at Milcomb were 

 Red-legged Partridges. 



27th. — Chiffchaff in song in the garden. 



28th. — The congregation of Swallows and Martins, especially 

 the former, has been smaller the last two mornings. 



29th. — Very few on the roof, but a good many about the 

 fields in the day. Many Pied Wagtails on the fresh ploughings 

 — quite a flock in two places. Coal-Tit with spring note. 



October 4th. — Mr. C. Jefferys on this date received from 

 Kirtlington an immature male Hobby. A Marsh-Harrier, 

 believed to be a three-year-old male, wounded and captured on 

 the 2nd inst., has been recorded by Mr. T. Terry Cooper, of 

 Swallowfield, Reading (Zool. 1900, p. 143). 



6th. — Again (after an interval) a good many Swallows and 

 Martins on the roof. A Landrail shot in the Milcomb Road 

 allotments. Very scarce this year. I only heard one in the 

 spring. 



7th. — No Swallows or Martins on the roof to-day, and hardly 

 any to be seen anywhere. Those on the roof yesterday were no 

 doubt passing migrants. A Starling here imitates the Green 

 Woodpecker's cry pretty well. 



8th. — A few Swallows passing slowly westward, although at 

 first sight they appeared to be merely hawking for insects. 



11th. — A good many Goldfinches about the thistly fields on 

 Milcomb hills. Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes swarm in the 

 hedges and in Milcomb gorse, where there is a wonderful crop 

 of hips, haws, and blackberries, the bushes of the last-named 

 looking perfectly black at the top with ripe fruit. Flocks of 

 Meadow-Pipits in long grass on hillside. 



18th. — Great and Blue Tits carefully searching a row of large 

 plants of " cottage kail " infested with the grey aphis, which has 

 done so much damage this season. 



19th. — A Humming-bird Hawk Moth (numerous this year) 

 at a petunia blossom. 



