322 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



A mild month, but frosts towards the end. Less than two 

 inches of rain on seventeen days ; wind S.W. ; temperature 

 over freezing on twenty days. 



February 5th. — A good many Thrushes have returned. 



6th. — Pied Wagtail sang. Blackbird with rattling breeding 

 note. 



12th. — Chaffinch singing. 



20th. — Most violent February storm ever known here. 

 Thunderstorm, hurricane, torrents of rain, and very big hail. 



21st. — Books building the last few days. 



26th. — Several Yellowhammers singing. 



A mild month, twenty-seven days over freezing ; 3| in. of 

 rain on twenty-five days ; S.W. The valleys more or less flooded 

 last two months. 



March 2nd. — Bullfinches numerous and destructive lately. 



6th.— A Nuthatch at the back of the house, the first seen 

 here this winter. I heard two at Wroxton on 5th. 



26th. — News from Mr. Fowler of Crossbills still at Cornwell, 

 and possibly nesting. Also of a Spotted Woodpecker seen by 

 him in Churchill Heath Wood on the 25th, where he had not 

 seen one since 1888. Wryneck in Hanwell Park. 



29th. — A Peregrine here. Nuthatch at Bloxham Grove. 



30th. — Three Herring-Gulls flew over very low down, going 

 N.E. ; perhaps brought down by the calls of my neighbour's 

 pinioned Gulls. Chaffinch's nest with one egg — very early. 



April 2nd. — Four or five Bedshanks reported at Kingham by 

 Mr. Fowler. They did not stay. 



12th. — This evening a Barn-Owl flew over the garden with 

 something in its claws, including a long straw, no doubt snatched 

 up with a mouse ! 



27th. — Several Goldfinches seen lately, probably recent 

 arrivals. A pair in my orchard. 



28th. — Examined a very fine adult female Dotterel shot from 

 a " trip " of five at Sibford on the 23rd. 



May 3rd. — Visited the heronry at Old Paddock, near Thame, 

 but I found that most of the trees in the grove of fine oaks where 

 they bred had been felled just when the birds were nesting last 

 year, and the Herons have deserted the place. This is a great 

 loss to the county. This spot is in what was once Bycote Park, 



