Feb., 1892. 
NOTES FROM A WINTER JOURNAL. 
43 
shot on the 10th on the Evenlode, near Handborough Mill, and 
of four Wild Geese seen by him feeding on the bank. Also 
of a fine male Scoter shot between Iffiey and Folly Bridge, 
on the 12th, by Mr. Thomas Dolly, jun. 
21st.—Sunday.—Extremely sharp. Walking out for a few 
minutes in the afternoon, I went down to the brook to see 
the Grey Wagtails. The snow being very deep, I made 
hardly any noise, and so surprised a Snipe on a shallow 
“scour” in midstream; thinking itself unseen, it squatted 
down, with the tip of its beak just touching and rippling the 
water. I kept quite still for a few minutes, when he slowly 
raised his head but did not move, and I backed quietly out of 
sight. Very hard frost at night. 
22nd.—Foggy. For a still day, perhaps the coldest I ever 
knew. Thermometer this morning registered 30° of frost at 
Bloxham (2J feet from the ground), and 32° at Broughton ; 
and at Bloxham at midday it only stood at 15°. Icicles 
collected on the hair and dress of those who were out of doors. 
Froze in my bed room last night and again during the day. 
Eleven Kingfishers received by a stuffer in Banbury just lately. 
A Jack Snipe, shot this morning, was in good condition. 
23rd.—Froze in bed room again last night; and this with 
very thick old walls, a large fire burning until midnight in 
the room below, and another occupied bed room above. 
24th —Examined a male Pied Woodpecker, shot at Bodi- 
cote early this month. A beautiful scene at night. The moon, 
thinly veiled with light, slowly passing clouds, shed a soft 
light on the white ground and the evergreens heavily laden 
with snow. 
25th.—Six Wild Geese seen near Nell Bridge, Adderbury. 
The Sorbrook, at Bodicote, has borne skaters for some days. 
26tli.—Canal like a road for miles. Cherwell, between 
Banbury and Nell Bridge, only open on the “scours” about 
Franklin’s Knob and just below Sutton Mill. A few Field¬ 
fares and half-a-dozen Larks on brook bank at Weir Lock were 
the only ones seen in a long walk. I afterwards heard they 
had entirely left a favourite farm in Bloxham parish ; this I 
heard on January 8th. 
28th.—Redwings and Missel Thrush coming to holly tree 
close to house at Bodicote. 
29th.—Cold. N.E. wind blowingfresli andveryunpleasant. 
30th.—Bitterly cold wind, E., strong, and most painful. 
Froze very hard all day. I hear the shade temperature has 
not been above 32° for twenty days. The most painfully cold 
day, as far as one’s feelings go, since 18th January, 1881. 
31st.—Very cold east wind, but not so strong. Snow at 
times, dry and drifting. 
(To be continued.) 
