Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/470

440 26th.—One of my nephews at Bodicote reported that early in the night of the 24th Wild Geese (cackling like tame Geese) passed over low enough down for the swish of their wings to be heard. I believe these early grey Geese are Grey-Lags. The late Lord Lilford wrote:—"I can speak positively as to the occasional passage of flocks of Grey-Lags over the neighbourhood of Lilford in September and October from my intimate knowledge of their cries, which exactly resemble those of our farmyard and stubble Geese, who are no doubt lineally descended from this species. These cries differ greatly from those of the three other species of 'grey' Geese that occasionally visit us late in the season.... Many reports of their passage near home annually reach me, and although I am well aware that the present species is considered to be rare in our part of England, I am nevertheless inclined to think that such reports in August, September, and the first half of October are generally referable to the Grey-Lag." ('Birds of Northamptonshire,' vol. ii. p. 140.)

September 16th.—Many Meadow Pipits in standing mustard.

18th.—Many Pied Wagtails on the fresh ploughings.

28th.—Many Meadow Pipits in slightly flooded meadow. Saw two Turtle Doves; a rather late date.

30th.—Big flock of migratory Peewits.

October 1st.—Close and warm. A Missel Thrush singing fairly well. A rare occurrence in autumn. Blackbirds, abundant for some weeks, are now extraordinarily numerous.

10th.—A Grey Wagtail in the brook below the village.

17th.—Meadow Pipits roosting on a high-lying barley-stubble, with a great deal of sprouted shed corn; they were not there early in the afternoon.

19th.—Grey Wagtail in the brook.

20th.—A few Fieldfares. An immature Golden Plover shot at Ascott-under-Wychwood by Mr. Calvert (in litt.).

21st.—Mr. Darbey, of Oxford, informed me he had received a good many locally-killed Gulls recently, and showed me examples of the Herring Gull, Common Gull, and Kittiwake.

29th.—Vast flock of Starlings on barley-stubble; a little flock of Meadow Pipits in roots late in the afternoon. A good many Redwings. It was reported in the 'Banbury Guardian' that