Feb., 1891 . 
THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 
37 
have been much reduced. The water meadows in the larger 
valleys, the low-lying tract of Otmoor, and sheets of water 
like Clattercote Reservoir, and the great lake at Blenheim, as 
well as many other artificial waters in the numerous parks of 
Oxfordshire, are annually attractive to large numbers of 
wild fowl. For an inland county, the list of the Annaticbz is 
indeed a goodly one, and in comparison with the latest British 
list it is much the readiest to name the omissions. These 
are the so-called Polish Swan, at the best a doubtful species; 
three Arctic geese, namely the Snow Goose, Red-breasted 
Bernicle, and the Lesser White-fronted Goose ; also the Red- 
crested Pochard, Harlequin, and King Eider, along with five 
American ducks. This leaves three swans, eight geese, and 
eighteen species of ducks as either resident, occasional, or 
rare and accidental visitors to Oxford waters. 
No doubt the ornithological richness of Oxfordshire is in a 
great measure connected with the fact that along much of its 
south and western boundaries runs the chief river of England— 
a stream rich in historic lore above all others—in the long days 
of summer a highway of water, with an ever-shifting panorama 
of graceful boats and gaily-dressed pleasure seekers, but in the 
autumn and winter sufficiently quiet and retired to attract 
numerous passing migrants and inland wanderers whose 
natural haunts are on the sea coast. River vallevs like the 
Thames are also peculiarly attractive to summer migrants. 
The long and deep stretches of reeds and bulrushes skirting 
the banks, the almost impassable willow-holts, and eyots 
buried in low shrubs and “ thorough-grown with rank masses 
of water-loving plants, afford conditions most favourable to 
various aquatic, warblers. So also the beautiful hanging 
woods, in a wealth of tinted foliage which almost seems to 
rival the brighter glories of autumn, are specially attractive to 
songsters like the Nightingale, Blackcap, and Garden Warbler. 
Nowhere, perhaps, on our chief English streams will the 
ornithologist find more charming pastoral and river scenery 
than along the upper waters of the Thames and Isis—not 
unmindful in his wanderings, as he marks the bright moving 
waters slipping and sliding away towards the sea, that it is 
the same ancient stream, little altered in itself from the dawn 
of history, on whose banks, through leagues of forest land, 
skin-clad hunters pursued the auroch, red deer, and wolf; 
and centuries later Roman legions, intent on fame and con¬ 
quest, marked out their camping ground, and kindled watch 
fires on its southern strand. 
In bringing these remarks on Mr. Aplin's pleasant pages 
to an end, we think ornithologists and others interested in 
