ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 415 



Eock-Pipit, but which I prefer to call the northern form of the 

 Alpine Pipit (vide 'Zoologist,' 1896, p. 379). The birds were 

 tame ; it was a sunny day, and I had the light at my back, so I 

 was able to see the stranger very well ; its large size made it 

 conspicuous among its companions. 



23rd. — Song-Thrush's nest with four eggs. One or two Chiff- 

 chaffs (silent) at Wickham. 



25th. — A wonderfully early season. Hedges more green than 

 brown. Pear in blossom. 65° in shade ! 



27th. — Blackthorn in bloom. 



28th. — News of first Peewit's eggs, viz., nest of three on the 

 24th in west Oxon. Also, in that district, of Long-eared Owl 

 sitting on five eggs in an old Wood-Pigeon's nest in a spruce-fir 

 on the 21st, and a Tawny Owl sitting on three eggs in an old 

 Jackdaw's nest on the 25th. 



29th. — Chiffchaff sang for the first time. Heard Curlews 

 passing over about 11 p.m., starlight. Country fearfully wet. 



31st. — Chiffchaff fairly common. Song-Thrush and Eobin 

 breeding freely. Meadows beautifully green; willows with a 

 light green flush ; some big thorn-bushes so thick with leaves 

 that at a little distance you cannot see if there is a Magpie's nest 

 in them or not. 



March a wet, stormy month, with gales from S.W. and W. 

 The most remarkable point is that there has been no east wind. 

 Eainfall 3'40 in. on seventeen days. 



April 2nd. — Bought from Mr. Bartlett a very fine recently 

 killed Moorhen, which measured 13f in. in the flesh. 



3rd. — Saw a Eobin's nest in an old tea-pot lodged in a box- 

 bush. 



5th. — Peewit's nest with four eggs on Milcomb Hill ; a hollow 

 in the turf, well lined with dead grass. Goldfinches noticed 

 recently feeding on seeding plants of Draba verna. They are 

 quite common now about the village. I have never before 

 known the gorse-blossom so fine here, the damp mild season 

 having suited it. 



7th. — Flock of a score of Fieldfares ; quite scarce this season. 

 Fresh-hewn holes of Green and Barred Woodpeckers in willows. 



9th. — Willow-Wren. The country about as green as it often 

 is in early May, with the exception of big trees. 



