Feb., 1891 . 
THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 
35 
62.—Romsdal from Fladmark, where we stopped the first night, with 
our conveyance standing in the road; a kind of low gig called 
“ Stolkjaerre,” of very primitive construction, but decidedly con¬ 
venient, with space for the driver behind, either sitting upon the 
luggage or more generally standing up. The harness was of a 
very simple and primitive make, the reins being only rope, but 
the pony was excellent, and very satisfactory both in work and 
looks; a sort of dark cream colour, with-a black line all down 
his back and running through the centre line of the mane, which 
is thought much of as a sign of good blood; and the mane is care¬ 
fully trimmed away on each side, leaving a narrow, black crest 
or ruff standing up some inches high all along the neck. The collar 
is made to stand high up, clear of the mane, so as not to damage 
this precious ruff, and the pony looked quite a little dandy, with 
even his back hair, that is his tail, parted down the middle. We 
saw many such ponies afterwards, and they are evidently taken 
much care of by their owners, who are often the drivers, either 
the owner or a son or daughter. The tourists frequently drive 
themselves, but we preferred to be independent, for jumping 
down whenever desired to photograph, orisketch, or to collect 
plants. 
(To be continued.) 
THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 
(Concluded from page 8.) 
Oxfordshire is the only county that can boast of the 
occurrence of the Alpine Chough, an excellent plate of which 
is given as a frontispiece. An example was shot in Brough¬ 
ton Park in April, 1881. Although thus straying far beyond 
its known range, there is yet nothing improbable in the 
occurrence, as it is recorded twice in Heligoland. A more 
unusual bird than even this to turn up accidentally in a Mid¬ 
land county is the Andalusian Hemipode, an extremely local 
species in the countries in which it is found, and certainly a 
most unlikely wanderer to our shores. 
The Raven has been shot as lately as 1888, but has long 
ceased to be a resident. The Carrion Crow seems fairly 
common in the north of the county. 
That handsome species, the Hoopoe, has several times 
been noted ; and undoubtedly, if unmolested, would remain 
to nest. This is indeed the case in a neighbouring county, in 
a locality where a pair of these birds, which come annually, 
are well cared for and protected. 
Mr. Aplin’s remarks on the habit of the Green Wood¬ 
pecker obtaining its food on the ground throughout the year , 
especially amongst ant hills, is a fact which appears to have 
escaped the notice of ornithologists. Both the Greater and 
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers nest in the county. 
The variety of the common Partridge in which the 
chestnut of the “ horse-shoe” mark on the breast is replaced 
by white, has not escaped the author’s notice; he lias, 
