ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 449 



13th. — Saw a Pied Woodpecker in the avenue at Bloxham 

 Grove, and the owner told me afterwards that in the summer he 

 had seen one come out of a hole in a big ash-tree close to the 

 avenue. 



14th.— A big gathering of Swifts in the forenoon, high up in 

 the cloudy wet sky, wheeling about and noisy. 



16th. — Still plenty of Swifts. Eobins made their song remark- 

 able this evening. 



18th. — Several Swifts this evening, but the bulk must have 

 gone after the 16th. 



20th. — Flock of about thirty Mistle-Thrushes in oat-stubble. 

 Blackbirds in the garden seem to live on plums now. 



21st.— Two Swifts. 



24th.— One Swift. Mr. R. W. Calvert at dusk flushed two 

 or three Ring-Ouzels from some seeding kale at Langley. 



27th. — Willow-Wren singing. 



September 1st. — Many Song-Thrushes in root-fields. Mistle- 

 Thrushes very abundant on stubbles and grass-fields, but not in 

 roots. 



3rd. — Good many Meadow-Pipits in roots ; this is early. A 

 poor Partridge year, and some birds can hardly fly yet. Flock 

 of two or three hundred Linnets. Many Ray's Wagtails on grass 

 and in root -fields : clearly on migration. 



7th. — A great congregation of Martins and a few Swallows on 

 the roof this morning. 



9th. — Two Land-Rails formed part of the bag to-day ; one of 

 them weighed eight ounces, and its hard muscular stomach con- 

 tained one large whole earwig, and the remains of several others, 

 besides a lot of hard grit. Saw a Wheatear. 



12th. — In early evening little noisy flocks of Swallows and 

 Martins, all flying in the same direction. 



13th. — No congregation of them on the roof this morning, as 

 has been the case every morning lately. Willow- Wren sang. 

 Chiffchaff in (autumn) song. 



17th. — A gathering of Martins and a few Swallows on roof. 



19th. — Starlings eating apples lately. 



20th. — Great congregation of House-Martins (only) on roof. 

 Swallows were sitting singing in apple-trees yesterday. Weather 

 glorious. 



