68 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



17th. — Flock of about a score of Golden Plovers between 

 South Newington and Barford. Blew and snowed at night. 



18th. — Frost and snow-storm. 



20th. — Goldfinches in the fields. 



23rd. — Frost continues. A female Peregrine-Falcon, the 

 finest I ever saw, was shot at Barford, near here. It measured 

 18J inches in the flesh. Head, face, and nape very dark ; mantle 

 pale and blue ; throat, fore neck, and breast quite unmarked until 

 the extreme lowest breast is reached. On the lowest part of the 

 breast and the belly, the markings are indistinct and broken. 

 Flanks and thighs with very narrow dark bars. Throat, pale 

 parts of the face, the neck, breast, and belly deeply flushed with 

 reddish buff or dull salmon colour. I never before saw this 

 colour so dark or so rich in this species. Legs and feet lemon- 

 yellow, cere the same (a week after death, and probably 

 faded). 



27th. — Charm of six Goldfinches and others. Some Bram- 

 blings. 



28th.— Thaw. 



There has been no Song-Thrush song this month or last (and 

 there was but little autumn song) ; a great contrast to last year. 

 We have, indeed, few Thrushes remaining with us this winter. 



