330 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
25th.—Many House-Martins on the roof nearly every morn- 
ing since about the 10th. A great deal of Robin song now. 
29th.—A few Swifts every evening up till to-day, when I could 
only see one. 
30th.—A brood of young Bullfinches about the garden con- 
stantly cry with a husky creaking “‘ peep,” quite different to that 
of the old ones. In the nest-dress the top of the head is brown, 
face, throat, and neck warm brown. 
Rain this month over two inches on seventeen days. A most 
cold, ungenial summer. 
September.—Blackbirds have been most destructive to apri- 
cots and plums. 
3rd.—A flock of a dozen Corn-Buntings. 
10th.—So far as one can see (so little corn cleared yet), a very 
bad Partridge year—probably the worst since 1879. No Meadow- 
Pipits in the roots yet. 
13th.—Still none. Great congregations of Martins on the 
roof now. A record crop of plums, the trees breaking down under 
the weight of the fruit. Blackbirds simply live on them. 
18th.—In two small adjoining pieces of clover four Land- 
Rails flushed and killed; all young birds, but certainly not 
bred here. Some Meadow-Pipits in the roots for the first 
time. 
20th.—No Martins on roof for several days, and less about. 
21st.—I think a great part of our Swaliows and Martins have 
already gone. 
23rd.—A flock of about two hundred Peewits on uplands near 
Barford. 
2.7th.—Chiffchaff singing. 
28th.—A good many Martins on roof this morning, probably 
composed of a second batch of broods. 
30th.—I heard at 7 p.m. the unmistakable cry of one or 
more Oystercatchers passing low down over my garden; dark 
and cloudy evening. 
Fine warm month. 
October 3rd.—Large gathering of Martins on roof, and I think 
no further diminution in numbers yet. 
7th.—Great many Swallows and Martins congregating in 
afternoon. 
