NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 209 



feathering ; (v) Four fresh egga ; (vi) With big young, some of 

 which left the nest when I parted the reeds. 



18th. — Haymaking begun. 



19th. — A Blackbird sang a short song at 8.55 p.m. ; the 

 Blackbird here does not sing late in the evening, so this was 

 most exceptional. 



25th. — Heard a Blackcap here again. 



28th. — Mr. Fowler writes that " a Marsh-Warbler is now 

 singing away charmingly in the original place of all, where you 

 and I first heard it." 



Barred Woodpeckers about the garden lately and especially 

 frequent on an old damascene tree. They often call in a low 

 tone. This is a familiar bird on the whole. When I was sitting 

 on the lawn one of them flew out of a low tree and passed close 

 to me. 



A dry month. Bain on nine days amounted to 2'68 inches. 

 But as 1'86 inches of this fell in forty-eight hours, ending on 

 the 10th, it saved the situation. 



July 1st. — A destructive thunderstorm. 



4th. — A white House Sparrow with pink eyes, which could 

 just fly, caught in this village. 



6th. — Some young Partridges could fly well, but one ran 

 and hid itself in a tuft of grass. It was about as big as a Corn- 

 Bunting, and the others looked so on the wing, less the tail, 

 but the broad well-developed wings gave a broader appearance. 

 Wing full feathered and body feathered, but the head and part 

 of the neck still in down. I have seen only two Cinnabar moths 

 this year. 



13th. — A Holly Blue in garden. 



26th. — Martins already congregate on house ; this morning 

 and earlier. 



27th. — To see a young Cuckoo in a Pied Wagtail's nest built 

 in jasmine, on the porch by the side of the front door at 

 Wickham Mill. It was fledged, with tail about an inch long ; 

 and very fierce, striking with its wings, open-mouthed. It also 

 pecked our fingers. Robin singing. 



Rain (2*50 inches) on eighteen days. 



August 2nd. — Goldfinch still singing in garden. 



10th. — About a dozen Swifts, rather noisy. 



