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SUMMER MIGRANTS. 
sufficiently noticed by authors as a distinguishing mark. On the 15th 
the Willow Wren {Phylloscopus trochilus) was in song; high time for it, 
as the larches were decidedly green.* The abundance of this bird in 
Oxfordshire was remarked by more than one observer, and about the 
end of the month they were apparently by far the most numerous of 
our warblers. A soft warm day on the 19th brought us the White- 
throat {Sylvia rufa), and the next both the Swallow {Hirundo 
rustica), and Cuckow {Cuculus caiioms) ; the latter remained in full 
song all May, and (though a few changed their note in the first 
few days) well into June. On the 21st I saw about half a score 
of Yellow Wagtails {Motacilla Rail) on a fallow; as usual they 
varied much in plumage, possibly from the reason given by 
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., when writing on a nearly allied species— 
viz., that some were young birds bred beyond the Equator in winter, 
and coming to Europe with their parents in spring as immature birds.f 
I scrutinized them carefully with the glasses for a Grey-head, but 
without success. In a hedge close at hand the Sedge Warbler 
(Acrocephalus schoenobcenus) was uttering his hurrying song. On the 
22nd my brother observed the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) in his garden 
singing grandly ; notwithstanding the snow which fell the next day and 
the return of severe weather I have no doubt this seemimgly hardy 
little warbler continued his song, for I remember on the 7th May, 
1879, hearing it actually during a snow storm. Walking along the 
high road on the 28th we saw a Nightingale (Daulias luscinia) come 
out several times on to the ground at the roadside to feed. It is 
remarkable how nearly this bird resembles the Robin in many of 
its habits. Just here I have found it rather more numerous than I 
used to do some five or six miles further south. Another sang 
beautifully on the 30th as I walked up a lane from the valley, 
reminding me of the truth of Keble’s lines— 
“ If, the quiet brooklet leaving. 
Up the stony vale I wind. 
Haply half in fancy grieving 
For the shades I leave behind. 
By the dusty wayside drear, 
Nightingales with joyous cheer. 
Sing, my sadness to reprove, 
Gladlier than in cultured grove.” 
House Martins (Chelidon urbica) appeared in some numbers on 
the 28th. It is wonderful how soon they find out where wet 
mud can be obtained. Except for a mechanical contrivance 
which brings the water in pipes, this village would be badly 
supplied with it, and around one of the taps near our gate I 
have often seen upwards of half a dozen building birds busily engaged 
in getting materials for their mud walls, which otherwise would 
* Vide Professor Newton in “ Phenological Instructions.” 
t Vide ‘‘Rambles of a Naturalist,” p. 114, 
