412 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Partridges could not have been hatched more than six weeks. 

 Eeport of about thirty Wild Geese, calling loudly, flying over 

 Holywell Farm in the daytime on the 4th inst. Holywell is on 

 high ground on Wiggington Heath (over 600 ft.), and I have often 

 remarked that birds crossing us do not trouble to rise high over 

 these highlands, but cross them at a low elevation. 



Early last month two Partridges were killed, which prove 

 that the white horseshoe is carried for two years at least. They 

 were shot on the 1st and 8th respectively, and the condition of 

 their wing-quills, &c, showed they were hatched in 1912. They 

 were (I almost wrote " of course ") both females. The horseshoe 

 was white, and in course of being moulted. The old feathers 

 white and the new ones — partly developed — were all coming 

 white. 



18th. — A good many Pipits about the fields. 



24th.— First frost. 



26th. — Practically no autumn song from Song-Thrushes. 

 They did not return to the garden in September, for that month, 

 except the two first days, was dry. 



27th. — Redwings scattered about the hedges. A brown 

 Merlin came nearly up to the hedge behind which I was 

 standing, in some stubble-fields at Wiggington. A good many 

 Meadow-Pipits. In several places there were Goldfinches on the 

 thistles, in lots of twos and threes or threes and fours. 



31st — Very few Eedwings yet ; there are practically no haws. 

 Rain this month no less than 5*12 in. (at the Grove). 



November 1st. — Song-Thrush sang well. 



2nd. — Thrush tribe scarce ; few, I think, were bred, except 

 early in the season. 



3rd. — Hardly any leaf down j'et. 



8th. — Grey Wagtail near Horley. 



9th. — Frost, and leaves came down in heaps. 



13th. — Floods in Cherwell valley. 



14th.— Six Fieldfares. A big flock (" thousands ") of " Norway 

 Pigeons" reported flying over, south, 7.30 a.m. Lots of Pipits 

 between swede-heaps. Country beautiful with autumn leaves. 

 Land-Rails very scarce this autumn ; I have heard of only one 

 near here. A big Badger killed on the Grove estate lately. 



22nd. — Still rnucb leaf on, and colours glorious. Average 



