ORNITHOLOGY. OF OXFORDSHIRE. 329 



Cherwell valley under North Aston. The female appeared first 

 on a small flock of Peewits rising and flying up the valley, but 

 she only made a pretence at pursuit, and was then joined by the 

 male. Nor were seven Herons feeding in the vicinity molested, 

 but a pair of Carrion-Crows perched in an oak round which the 

 Peregrines circled had a bad fright, and cried out. But these 

 grand birds may have been fed up, for they betook themselves to 

 toying in the air like two dignified butterflies, first one and then 

 the other mounting in the air above its mate. During this toy- 

 ing flight and their slow flights over the meadow their wings 

 were raised rather higher above their backs than usual, so that 

 (the day being very clear and sunny) the under side of the wings 

 and the flanks could be seen very plainly. Once or twice a few 

 "quayks " were uttered, but much lower in tone and softer than 

 those we hear from angry and anxious birds at the nest. Twice 

 the female settled in very shallow flood, taking great care to keep 

 her tail dry, raising it indeed, at one time, almost like a Magpie. 

 She stooped twice as if drinking, but stayed quite a few minutes 

 doing nothing at all. They were fine blue birds, and the female 

 had a remarkably pure white throat. These birds doubtless 

 roosted in the w r oods about North Aston, in the direction of which 

 they presently departed. 



7th. — Mistle-Thrush sang ; one hears an occasional Song- 

 Thrush now, but there have been few birds about since mid- 

 November. A lot of local Wood-Pigeons in Banbury Market. 



8th. — Saw a Kestrel. 



10th. — News from Mr. Fowler of Siskins, with Ptedpolls, at 

 Oxford, and Eedpolls at Kingham ; also Bramblings by the 

 thousand. Eedpolls are unusually common here this season. 



14th. — Examined an adult female Merlin shot at Tusmore in 

 October. 



16th. — Bullfinches have been destroying the plum-buds this 

 last week ; as many as three in a tree at one time. But I once, 

 in another year, saw six ! 



21st. — Saw a Grey Crow with Rooks in a meadow near Ban- 

 bury. 



23rd. — Winter aconite fully out, but flower not turned up. 

 There is not much Thrush song this mild weather, consequent 

 on an exodus in the cold weather in November. 



