326 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



this month at Slat Mill, near Cropredy. This looks as if the 

 breeding birds were pushing up the Cherwell Valley. 



June 2nd. — Mistle-Thrush still in song. 



July 11th. — Saw a Keed-Warbler in the Cherwell just above 

 King's Sutton. Also saw an old Cuckoo, though I had not heard 

 one for several days before June 25th. Eooks have been very 

 destructive this dry season, and I was told to-day of one and a 

 half acres of peas completely destroyed by them and Jackdaws. 



15th.— A boy brought me a deserted nest and four eggs of a 

 Nightingale, taken close to where I had seen a bird in May. 

 The yolks of the eggs were only curdled, and, considering the 

 very hot dry weather, the eggs could not have been laid long. 



21st. — Wheat ripe ; oats cut, and pasture fields quite brown. 



21th. — Martins congregating on the roof. Song- Thrushes 

 have deserted the garden ; a pair which have young in front of 

 the house are, my man says, feeding them on green cabbage 

 caterpillars. 



August 9th. — Said to be the hottest day ever known in 

 England ; here only 90°. Swifts enjoyed it, but the Greenfinch 

 was the only bird in the garden that could sing. All the Swifts 

 here this evening, but only one seen afterwards. 



12th. — A young Eed-backed Shrike. 



14th. — A Gull (probably immature Herring) flew over, N.E. 



19th. — Harvest finished. 



September 1st. — About one hundred Martins on roof, 8.30 a.m. 

 They have been more numerous than usual this year, a good 

 many having arrived after the middle of May. 



5th. — Over one hundred Martins on roof. 



6th. — Shot a white horseshoed Partridge — a female of last 

 year. About one hundred and twenty Martins on roof. 



7th.— Small Copper Butterflies very abundant now. I saw 

 five close together in my garden even. 



8th. — About half a dozen Meadow-Pipits in roots; 84° in 

 shade. 



26th.— One field of roots pretty full of Pipits, despite the 

 smell of the mildewed and rotting plants ; few in others. Two 

 little " charms " of Goldfinches. 



29th. — Nearly all the Swallows and Martins gone ; the last 

 gathering on the roof of the latter was on 23rd. The great 



