288 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



full of them, eating the fruit. Thrushes have sung continuously 

 so far. 



9th. — The bulk of the Swifts gone. The hottest day of 

 summer (77°) so far. 



10th. — Saw four Swifts. I suppose their young ones were 

 starved, and so having none to rear they have gone early. I 

 never saw any number in the air together at the time the young 

 should have been on the wing. 



12th. — Two Swifts. Thrush sang morning and evening. 81°. 



14th. — House-Martins have had a good breeding season; 

 there are many about. 



15th. — Some fifty or sixty Starlings rose at once from my 

 gooseberry bushes ! At 5 a.m. I heard Gulls calling as they 

 passed over, going west. 81° again. From the 3rd to the 17th, 

 when there was a great rain, we had the only summer weather. 



25th. — Martins congregating on roof. 



Nearly two inches of rain— on fifteen days. Wind generally 

 N.W. A late harvest, but most of the wheat cut by the end of 

 this month. 



Birds have sung late this year. Blackbird occasionally down 

 to Aug. 3rd. Thrush continuously to the 15th. Greenfinch to 

 the 24th. Eobins began to sing again about Aug. 11th. 



September 1st. — Shooting delayed by standing oats, barley, 

 and beans. A flock of about a hundred Peewits in some thin 

 swedes. 



3rd. — A great many Martins on the roof. 



5th. — A Peacock Butterfly. A most fruitful year, but all 

 spoilt by bad weather. 



8th. — News from Mr. Fowler of Hobbies seen nearly every 

 evening waiting for the Swallows going to roost in the osier-bed 

 at Kingham. 



10th. — Report of three Land-Rails shot about Sibford Heath 

 on 7th. I strongly suspect that Dartford Warblers inhabit a 

 piece of scattered gorse near here. To-day I heard notes and 

 saw a bird, both of which appeared to right, but I had no glasses 

 and could not be sure. 



15th. — No Pipits seen yet in the few roots I have walked. 



16th. — Swallows with young in nest in stable. 



17th. — Severe thunderstorm and heavy rain ; extended over 



