ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 289 



a good deal of the country and much damage done by lightning 

 and, in some parts, hail. 



18th. — Eeport of two Land-Rails shot and another seen at 

 Milcomb on 14th. A small flock of Meadow-Pipits. 



19th. — Starlings catching flies high in air. A diminution of 

 Swallows and Martins. 



20th. — Flock of Mistle-Thrushes in grass field. 



21st. — A big gathering of Martins and some Swallows. 



22nd.— Brimstone Butterfly. 



24th. — Several small charms of Goldfinches about thistly 

 fields on South Newington Hill. Lark singing. 



25th. — A young Song-Thrush sang in an undertone. 



26th. — Only a small gathering of Martins on roof; a lot 

 gone. Few Pipits seen yet. Not such a bad season for 

 Partridges here as in some districts. What birds we find are 

 big and strong, and there are some big coveys. We find no late 

 broods. Some birds must have bred early, and the young were 

 strong before the bad weather came. The later broods probably 

 all perished. Red-legged Partridges very scarce. 



30th. — Cherwell Valley heavily flooded. 



Over three inches of rain ; fell on more than half the days 

 of the month. Wind chiefly north. A late and delayed harvest. 



October 1st. — Long-eared Owl in spinney at South Newington 

 Hill. Mistle-Thrushes still in small flocks, but some screeching 

 about the hedges. Country deplorably wet. Corn rotting on 

 the ground. 



17th. — About twenty Swallows and Martins over garden. 



19th. — Brimstone Butterfly. 



21st. — Some Pipits ; on the move. No longer see many 

 Mistle-Thrushes about. Lots of barley and oats out. 



24th. — A Blackbird has sung for some days in a low tone — 

 evidently a young bird. Part of village flooded. 



27th, — Caterpillars have destroyed a great quantity of the 

 cabbage tribe lately. 



A very wet month : warm until the last week of the month 

 when frosts set in, and snow fell on 30th. Nearly three and a 

 half inches of rain, on twenty-seven days. S.W. 



November 1st. — A good many Fieldfares and some passing 

 over. One Redwing. 



