328 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



November 2nd. — Mr. Bartlett said he had already had several 

 Grey Crows this autumn — three in one week. 



4th. — An early autumn. All trees turned, and many of them 

 bare of leaves ; hedges much thinned. 



7th. — Flushed a Short-eared Owl in the ash poles at South 

 Newington, which settled in a still leafy oak. Some Bramblings. 

 Peewits on ploughings. 



13th. — Song-Thrushes singing well. 



14th. — We see and hear more Crows than usual, and some of 

 them are probably Grey. All five members of the Thrush family 

 now feeding on the fine crop of haws. 



17th. —Fieldfares, which early in the week were more nume- 

 rous than for years past, have moved on to some extent. 

 Bramblings all about. Blue, Great, and Marsh Tits to-day all 

 feeding on beech-mast, gathering it, and flying with it to the 

 ground or a stump or bough to eat it. 



18th. — Greenfinches numerous in the garden, eating the fine 

 ripe sweet-briar hips. Weather very cold. 



19th.— 27°, 29° 10.45 a.m. Previous days have been colder. 

 Yesterday the thermometer here did not rise above 30° all day. 

 Wind, E. to N.E. In Banbury it would doubtless be a little 

 warmer, but still it was astonishing that House-Martins should 

 be able, even if willing, to feed young. Yet as late as to-day 

 Mr. E. Tyrrell (who has a good knowledge of birds) observed that 

 the young in a nest near his house were being fed, but by one 

 old bird only. 



21st. — Fieldfares again in large numbers; also Kedwings, 

 Goldfinches, and all hard-billed birds abundant. Flock of Red- 

 polls in big alders near the Pest House. Bramblings numerous 

 this autumn. A cold November. 



December 2nd. — Bullfinches abundant. To be seen about the 

 village, and almost at any time in my garden. They have the 

 last two years become permanent residents in the garden instead 

 of unwelcome visitors in late winter and early spring, occasionally 

 staying to breed. They have now bred for two, and I think 

 three, years both in front and at the back of the house, and 

 have been present constantly since summer up to the present 

 time. They are also numerous about the hedges in the fields. 

 6th. — I watched a pair of Peregrines — fine adult birds — in the 



