NOTES ON OXFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGY. 449 



Raven (Gorvus corax). — Extinct. " My dear old friend (Mr. 

 Hickman) used to tell ine he remembered them breeding [in a 

 large oak] in Crowsley Park, many years ago." 



Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). — Young ones 

 were taken from an apple tree at Nettlebed. I saw young in 

 Lambridge Wood for two seasons running. 



Wryneck (lynx torquilla). — Common. Local name, "May 

 Wit." [I have not met with the name elsewhere. I doubt if 

 the Wryneck can be called common in any part of the county at 

 the present time. In the north it is quite uncommon.] 



Hoopoe (Upupa epops). — One was shot at Widmore Pond, 

 near Henley, four years ago. I am told that one was shot 

 at Grays Court many years ago. 



Roller (Coracias garrulus). — " Has been shot once here, in 

 the neighbourhood of Greys Court." [In the Egg Catalogue, 

 Stubbs said he never knew of its occurrence in the neighbour- 

 hood, but the " Sketch " was written subsequently, just after the 

 winter of 1867-8.] 



Sand-Martin (Cotile riparia). — The earliest of the three 

 species of Swallow; "generally reaches us the third or the last 

 week in March." [In the north of the county it does not arrive 

 until later.] 



Stock-Dove (Columba cenas). — I have only met with it in 

 winter, in flocks. But I had a pair of eggs brought to me from 

 a rabbit-burrow at Medmenham. [This place is in Berks. The 

 rarity of the Stock-Dove as a breeding species at that date is 

 noteworthy. The Messrs. Matthews wrote that its nest had 

 sometimes been found. Mr. Goatley informed them that it was 

 resident, and bred in holes in trees in Heythrop Park. It is 

 nowadays a common breeding species.] 



Rock-Dove (C. livid). — " Rockier." Is occasionally shot in 

 the winter months. 



Red-legged Partridge (Caccabis rufa). — Not at all common. 

 Nest of eggs taken in May, 1867, at Bottom House Farm. [In 

 the " Sketch " he says] , I generally see five or six in a season at 

 the poulterer's. [Has increased very much since that time, and 

 is now common all over the county.] 



Quail (Coturnix communis). — Now much rarer about here 

 than it used to be formerly. 



