Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/469

Rh 20th.—News from Mr. Fowler that Mr. Pycraft saw a Cormorant at King's Weir, Oxford, on the 17th, and a Black Tern.

22nd.—Mr. Fowler saw a Blue-headed Wagtail on Port Meadow; "white eye-stripe, and a very dark head even for that species, I should say" (in litt.).

24th.—A Song Thrush sang from the ridge of the house-roof. It uttered its rattling alarm-note once in the song, and the quiet alarm-note two or three times. But this might have been accounted for by the fact that it was uneasy.

28th.—A Spotted Flycatcher in the garden is an unusually frequent singer. The song is low, but shrill; weak, yet remarkable when heard at a short distance. It comes tinkling out like the sound of a tiny streamlet, but the notes are thin and shrill.

The Rev. J. Goodwin tells me of a Hawk, which, I think, must be a pale grey Harrier, seen at Broughton lately.

29th to July 8th.—Away in Norway.

June 5th.—The Marsh Warbler arrived at its favourite osier-bed at Kingham for the fifth year, and was heard by Mr. Fowler to-day, the same day as in 1892. It was only heard in song occasionally after the 13th. Nest found on the 27th.

July 10th.—Brancher Spotted Flycatchers.

19th.—Covey of Partridges, thirteen in all, the young nearly as large as the old. Hot dry weather for some weeks.

20th.—Another covey with young quite as big.

August 4th.—Saw a Hobby at Kignell Spinney, near Barford St. Michael.

10th.—Many Swifts; very noisy.

11th.—Not many Swifts to be seen, though some still nesting. Saw a Nightingale in the paddock-walk. How little we know of this bird in the late summer. Also saw a Wren's nest, which I had never noticed before. It was against the trunk of a slightly ivied tree, and built of moss with a thick outside covering of some plant. The latter is now withered and brown, and the nest is very conspicuous (a great drought had prevailed during summer), but I have no doubt the plant was green when the nest was built.

13th.—Still some Swifts.

14th.—About this date I saw a flock of fourteen Missel Thrushes.