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LIBRARY

OF

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NATURAL HISTORY

NOTES ON
THE BIEDS OF KENT.

WOODCOCK ON ITS NEST.

NOTES

ON THE

BIRDS OF KENT

BY

K. J. BALSTON, D.L., J.P., F.Z.S.. M.B.O.U.,
EEV. C. W. SHEPHERD, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

AND

E. BARTLETT, F.Z.S.

WITH NINE PLATES AND A MAP

Xoiit>on

R. H. PORTER

7, PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W.

1907

PEEFACE.

The origin of the present work is founded on the
material brought together in connection with a certain
area in Kent, but in that limited portion of the county
it was noticed that the Avi-fauna would scarcely be of
sufficient importance for even a small work like that of
the Birds of Bainham, by the late Mr. W. Prentis,
therefore it was carefully considered and found advisable
to take in the whole of the county. It was also thought
desirable to collect all the material hitherto written, and
give to those who have done so much towards our know-
ledge of the Birds of Kent, full credit for their observa-
tions. In doing this it necessitated much time to collect
the scattered information, and research into all the works
inaccessible to the general reader, including numerous
publications from a very early date, beginning with
Linnaeus's Systenia Natura (1766) ; Latham's General
Synopsis of Birds (1781-87-1801) ; Boys' Birds of Sand-
wick (1792); the Zoologist (1843-1906); the Kev. J. Pem-
berton Bartlett's notes on the Birds of Kent (1844); G.
Dowker's Birds of East Kent (1889) ; Messrs. Power andi
W. Prentis's Birds of Bainham (1894) ; J. Gould's Birds
of Great Britain (1873) ; Yarrell's British Birds (1871-85) ;
J. E. Harting's Hand-hooJcs (1872-1901), and many other

Vi. THE BIRDS OF KENT

works too numerous to quote here, but reference to
which will be found in the text.

The nomenclature and classification of the List of
British Birds, compiled by the Committee of the British
Ornithologists' Union (1883) has been maintained in the
present book.

The Linnaean specific names having priority, irre-
spective of their having been used for generic terms,
are retained, by the special desire of many eminent
naturalists.

In the British Ornithologists' Union list (1883), 452
species are enumerated ; 76 of these are placed in brackets
as Non-British birds, leaving 376 which are considered
truly British ; 128 residents ; 52 summer visitors ; 166
occasional visitors ; 31 winter visitors.

Mr. J. E. Harting, in his last Hand-Bool', 1901, puts
the numbers down as follows : —

130 residents ; 100 periodical emigrants ; 32 annual
visitors ; 167 being rare accidental visitors.

In Kent, up to the present time, 320 species are recog-
nised and divided into the following order : —

(1) Eesidents which are to be found at all times, and

breed in the county ... ... ... ... 66

(2) Regular summer visitors W'hich breed in the

county ... ... ... ... ... ... 48

(3) Regular winter visitors ... ... ... ... 78

(4) Occasional visitors, which have been found more

than twice ... ... ... ... ... 35

(5) Accidental visitors ... ... ... ... ... 91

(6) Introduced a few^ years ago, Red-legged Part-

ridge , ... 1

(7) Extinct. Black Grouse 1

PREFACE Vll.

This latter bird is put under the word extinct, as it is
highly improbable it will ever regain its former status.

Many of the birds, which might also come under the
same word, such as the Crane, Bustards, Cream-coloured
Courser, &c., are likely to become occasional visitors,
although comparatively extinct in the county.

The American Bobin, Northern Mocking-bird and
American Screech Owl, are included in the accidental
visitors.

The following birds, although having been procured in
Kent, are excluded from the Kentish birds proper, viz. :
Whydah Finch, Bainham ; Bed-billed Whydah bird,
Lydd ; Crimson Weaver bird, Lydd. To retain these
among the Kentish birds would be quite as consistent
as retaining the Gold-vented Bulbul of Cape Colony,
which Mr. Harting still adds to his "rare and accidental
visitors."

The Pelican, Black Swan, Summer Duck and Vir-
ginian Colin, have been procured in Kent, but sufficient
evidence of their having escaped from captivity is given,
therefore these have been omitted.

It may be noted that those birds which can swim
have a greater chance of reaching the coast of England
and Europe, but in the case of delicate, small birds, there
is no doubt that they take refuge and rest on the nu-
merous large vessels continually traversing the Atlantic
Ocean, hence their discovery on our shores.

There is one very extraordinary circumstance which
deserves notice, that a very large number of the rare seed-
eating and other birds should have been found on the
Sussex coast, and there is some suspicion that most of
these birds have been introduced ; none of these birds
having been observed in Kent although an adjoining
county.

VUl. THE BIRDS OF KENT

To all those who have assisted us with their valuable
notes we are much indebted and offer our sincere thanks,
especially to Captain J. D. Cameron, Mr. F. H. Water-
house, Mr. J. H. Allchin, the Curator of the Maidstone
Museum, and his assistant, Mr. H. Elgar, and also to
Mr. E. T. Filmer, for the use of his manuscript notes
on the birds in the neighbourhood of Orlestone.

Kent, 1907. Edward Bartlett.

CONTENTS.

Half Title

Title Page

Preface...

Contents

Illustrations

Introduction

Notes on the Birds of Kent

Index ...

IX.

xi.

xiii.

1

456

ILLUSTKATIONS.

Woodcock on Nest

Frontispiece.

White-spotted Blue-thkoat

... face jp. 37

Dartfobd Wakbler ...

,, 64

Masked Shrike

,, 137

Crossbill (Young) ...

„ 192

Lesser Kestrel

,, 304

Kentish Plover

„ 376

AVOCET

„ 388

Sandwich Tern

„ 426

Map of Kent

End of Volume.

INTRODUCTION.

Many counties have had the history of their bird-life
written, but Kent is not among them, and when we
consider the county of Kent, its size, long coast line,
woodlands, valleys and waterways, and nearness to
the Continent of Europe, it is surprising that no such
history has yet appeared. Kent is essentially a maritime
county, its northern boundary the Eiver Thames and
the North Sea, east the North Sea and the Straits of
Dover, and on the south it is bordered by the English
Channel. Some 140 miles of its circumference is thus
lapped by tidal waters. In bygone years, shore-birds and
water-fowl of every description, no doubt, frequented this
long coast line in great numbers, but it is not so now.
From Greenwich to Gravesend the river banks are lighted
by gas lamps, and from Heme Bay to Hythe, with the
exception of the Sandwich Flats, the coast is given up to
the tripper and the jerry builder, and gunners prowl
daily along it shooting or scaring away every bird that
approaches ; still there are a few quiet places left where
some of the old frequenters may yet be met with,
especially in the estuary of the Thames, Medway, Sand-
wich Flats, and Eomney Marsh. To understand the
natural features of the county a slight description of its
geological formation is necessary. The great feature of
the county is the chalk; it extends from the Surrey
border to the Dover cliffs, and covers nearly the whole of

XIV. THE BIRDS OF KENT

the northern portion of the county ; its southern escarp-
ment forms the fine range of hills called the North
Downs, which in some places reach an elevation of from
700 to 800 feet, and are conspicuous throughout the
greater part of the county. The crest of these hills is
m great part covered with woods, and from it the land
slopes down gradually to the valley of the Thames some
eight or nine miles distant, where the chalk dips under
the London clay. The whole of the higher part of this
plateau is very thinly inhabited, and many narrow deep
valleys run down in a northerly direction from the crest
of the Downs, having their sides and tops covered with
woods wherein the beech tree and the yew tree flourish.
In these wild, quiet, undulating, undisturbed regions,
many summer migrants find a pleasant home, and the
Hawk and the Jay live longer lives than in many other
places.

At the foot of the North Downs lies a narrow belt of
stiff clay called the Gault ; this is chiefly grassland ;
further south still there is a belt of sandy limestone called
the Folkestone Beds ; these sands run from Folkestone
through the county, and with the Gault form the great
valley which is bounded on the north by the chalk downs
and on the south by the Kentish Rag, or Hythe Beds of
the Lower Greensand. These Kentish Eag hills form
an elevated plateau and run through the middle of the
county from west to east almost parallel to the north
Downs. They are a very noticeable feature in Kentish
scenery. Much of the most pleasing scenery and most
beautiful views are to be found in this district, the range
varies in width and is much wider in the middle of the
county than at either end ; it is broken and uneven and
many small streams come from it ; on its sides grow the

INTRODUCTION XV.

best of hops and the best of orchards, there are also large
tracts of woodland and common land on it. It seems that
birds of all descriptions could find a home to their liking
upon it. In this district, Hawfinches and Bullfinches
have become very plentiful, and of late years the latter
have become a perfect plague to the fruit growers. This
range of hills finishes abruptly with a sharp fall to the
low-lying Weald. The Weald is a bed of heavy clay,
covering a tract of country four or five miles in width, and
runs through the county from Edenbridge to Eomney
Marsh ; it is a wet country, and after heavy rains is much
flooded ; though wholly a clay deposit in some places
patches of limestone are found on it, the stone called
Bethersden marble being an instance of this. Most of the
Kentish rivers come from the Weald clay. To the south
of the Weald rise the hills of the Hastings sands. These
sands form the southern boundary of the county and
cover a tract from Cowden to Rye, on the border of
Romney Marsh ; they form a sandy undulating district
with patches of clay and ironstone, with many dales and
hills and little streams.

From this sketchy account of the geology of the county
it is possible to form some idea of its general features.
There is the great chalk range to the north some eight
or nine miles in width, then on the south of the chalk
the wide valley of the Gault and the Folkestone sands,
having on its southern side the Kentish Eag hills ; these
hills form as it were the backbone of the county, having
on their north the valley of the Gault, and on the south
side the valley of the Weald ; these two great valleys
run nearly the whole length of the county from west to
east, with the Kentish Eag between them. There
are two districts not yet alluded to which are in-

XVI. THE BIRDS OF KENT

teresting ornithologically : first, the tertiary deposits ;
these consists of the Woolwich beds and the London
clay. The Woolwich beds cover a considerable tract of
country in the north-west of the county from Deptford
to Plumstead, and from Croydon to the Grays ; these
deposits consist of a sandy, gravelly soil, and form an
undulating, well-timbered country, which before it was
turned into a suburban district was, no doubt, a very
pleasing country. It has been said that the county
obtained its name of the Garden of England from the
charm and fruitfulness of this district, but now it is all
changed and can be pleasing only to the lovers of the
villaesque. Still, birds do not seem to have forsaken it.
A recent writer in a daily paper states that during the
last few years he has noted no less than seventy-seven
species in this thickly-populated part of the county,
mentioning among them a Nightingale singing at Plum-
stead. Birds we know from London (Wood Pigeons
and Gulls), if not persecuted, do not mind bricks and
mortar, and in the large gardens and enclosed grounds
and paddocks which surround the large houses, nu-
merous throughout the district, they would find many
congenial retreats.

It was here, on Bexley Heath, that the Dartford
Warbler was first observed in 1773. The London clay
is the chief tertiary deposit in the county ; it lies in
patches by the river side from Plumstead to Gravesend,
but below that town it covers a wide tract, including the
Hundred of Hoo and the Isles of Grain and Sheppey.
This marshy, low-lying tract between the two rivers, the
Thames and Medway, is frequented by many wild fowl
and shore birds, many making it their summer resort,
and among them there is a colony of Little Terns.

INTRODUCTION XVll.

Not SO many years ago large flocks of Oxbirds and
Godwits were to be seen above Rochester Bridge feeding
on the mud banks at low water, bat now the Medway is
given np to the cement maker, and there is no longer
room for the Oxbird. On the southern side of the Swale
the London clay is found in patches large and small as
far as Faversham, where it swells out and covers a large
tract of country. From Faversham to the fieculvers,
and on the south by way of the Blean Woods to Canter-
bury, and over the valley of the Stour to Sandwich,
all this low-lying country, thinly inhabited, intersected
by ditches and the winding Stour, is still frequented by
many birds, especially about the mouth of the Stour.
The boom of the Bittern might perhaps have been heard
there again this year, as it is reported that two of them
have been shot there quite lately. The Sandwich Flats
are a favourite resort of Curlews, Plovers and Sandpipers.
This masf? of London clay Hes over the chalk, but the
chalk crops up again in the Isle of Thanet and extends
the chalk cliffs along the shore from Ramsgate to the
Reculvers. These white walls of old England afford
nesting places for a variety of birds, Jackdaws and
Starlings especially delighting in them ; a few pairs of
Guillemots may be met with round the South Foreland,
and on the Dover cliffs and St. Margaret's Bay two or
three pairs of Peregrines are said to breed yearly, though
more often than not it is to be feared their nests are
robbed.

The Romney Marsh is a district apart, separated
from the rest of the county by the Military Canal, and
is altogether diverse in its character and appearance ; it
is ten njiles wide from north to south and half as much
again from west to east, and is a very low-lying region,

B

XVlll. THE BIRDS OF KENT

which would probably be covered by the sea at high
water were it not for the vast mass of shingle beach
thrown up by the sea, forming a protective breakwater.
Thousands of acres of this beach are without a blade of
grass, and thousands more with just the beginnings of
vegetation visible ; this beach increases year by year, and
on it many birds breed. Here may be found the Stone
Curlew, the Ringed Plover and the Kentish Plover.
Here also are colonies of the Common and Little Tern,
and Black-headed Gull. Owing to the great difficulty
of walking over the vast extent of loose shingle, the
nests of these birds are not often robbed, though in all
cases where eggs are valuable there is sure to be some
persevering robber who manages to find them.

The whole of the Marsh is much cut and intersected
by sewers, as the Marsh drains are called, which are
lined with reeds and rushes, and form retreats for
Peed and Sedge Warblers ; near the sea where the
ditches are wider and there are swampy places, Eedshanks
and Wagtails make their nests. At one time, too, there
used to be a colony of Sandwich Terns, but they are
seldom seen now.

Not much is known about the arrival of summer
migrants on the Kentish coast. From the Bulletin of
the British Ornithologists' Club, on the immigration of
summer residents it appears that, as far as present
observations go, the chief routes taken by the birds lie
further to the west, and that the greatest part arrive on
the coasts between Devonshire and Hampshire. It may
be that the passage over the water to the Kentish coast
being so very much shorter, the birds do not alight on
reaching land, but pass on into Essex or Suffolk,
and so no great quantities are observed at any one time

INTRODUCTION XIX.

in Kent, but emigrants in autumn have been observed
in great numbers on the borders of the Marsh, especially
Blackbirds and Willow Warblers. Probably those that
go that way would return by the same route the next
spring.

The chief river in the county is the Medway, which,
rising in Sussex, flows by Tonbridge to Maidstone, and
so by Eochester to the Estuary of the Thames. The
Beult flowing through the Weald joins the Medway at
Yalding, and the Theyse coming from the south also
joins it at the same place. The Stour rising near Len-
ham flows by Ashford, and keeping a north-easterly
course passes by Canterbury and enters the sea at Sand-
wich. The Darenth rising near Sevenoaks flows north
to the Thames. It may be noticed that all these rivers
flow in a northerly direction and make their way through
the Kentish Rag and North Down ranges, which seems
strange; but geologists tell us that once upon a time
the whole county was more or less upon a level, with a
gentle dip towards the basin of the Thames, the Weald
being the highest ground, and that these rivers rising in
the Wealden clay naturally flowed towards the Thames,
and then as ages and ages rolled on, in spite of upheavals
and depressions, the rivers held their course and cut their
way through all obstructions.

These few observations of the features of the county
of Kent, are the observations of a casual observer as he
passes along unburdened by scientific knowledge ; what
a similar individual may observe in the days of another
generation will probably be very different ; he may see.
vast portions of fair country disfigured by coal mines,
and the whole of the Kentish coasts fringed with bathing
machines, as even Dungeness has already broken out in
bungalows.

THE BIRDS OF KENT.

Order PASSEBES.

Family TURDID^.

Genus TURDUS, Lmn?eus.

THEUSHE8.

S0NG-BIKD8.

MISSEL-THEUSH.

Turdus viscivonis, Linnaeus. Syst. Nat., i.,
p. 291 (176G).

Missel-Thrush, Mistletoe-Thrush, Misseltoe-
Thrush and Stormcock.

This large and conspicuous Thrush is by no means so
abundant in any part of the county as the Song-Thrush,
and although plentiful, its obscure grey colouring some-
what protects it from the ordinary observer, but its size
when seen always attracts attention. It is most notice-
able during the autumn and winter, when the trees are
destitute of foliage, then the Missel-Thrush may be
observed in large numbers. No doubt a great many go
south and leave the county ; for towards the end of
October they have greatly diminished in numbers, but
increase again towards the end of March and the early
part of April. The Missel-Thrush has been heard singing
as early as February 26. Although a wild and shy bird
1

2 THE BIRDS OF KENT

it usually keeps near the home of man, especially in the
breeding season.

It is in orchards and gardens and frequented places
that the Missel-Thrush prefers to nest and rear its young.
On May 8 a Missel-Thrushes' nest was found placed on
an old beech stump, by the side of a wood ; it was about
4 feet from the ground and so carefully concealed
among the old short stumps of the knotted trunk, that
it appeared to be part of the old stump itself. It was
composed of roots and bents and coarse grass, and lined
with finer material, with a few pieces of green moss stuck
in on the outside (no sheep's wool), and contained callow
young ; five days afterwards they were fully feathered, and
on the 17th they were gone.

Another nest, not far from a farmhouse, was placed in
a large whitethorn bush, about 9 feet from the ground,
and was composed for the most part of sheep's wool and
roots, in a most careless and rough manner ; another was
placed in a thorn-bush in a thick hedge about 5 feet from
the ground, of a very neat and compact construction,
principally composed of very fine roots and grass. A
nest which was placed in the fork of a hazel-nut tree,
about 9 feet from the ground, was nearly covered on the
outside with green moss. The nests usually contain four
eggs, which vary both in size and colour.

It is during the breeding season that the Missel-Thrush
appears to be very scarce, but we can understand why
this is, their obscure colouring and shyness, and the pro-
tective foliage amongst which they hide, save them from
observation. They glide from their nest and very quickly
disappear. But the strange part of it is, as soon as the
young are able to fly they all disappear from the orchards,
gardens and lanes, and betake themselves to the woods.

MISSEL-THRUSH 3

You may walk miles round the district in which you
found the nests without seeing a Missel-Thrush, or per-
haps only one ; but they appear again in the open fields
towards autumn.

Throughout the county the bird or its nest is to be
found. From Lydd throughout Eomney Marsh, gener-
ally about the old farms ; along the Royal Military Canal
from Warehorn to Lympne. It breeds in all parts of the
county and is abundant in North and West Kent.

Mr. Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandivich, 1792.
In 1844 the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states that
the Missel-Thrush is common in Kent. Among the
Birds Observed at Bainham by Mr. W. H. Power in
1865, he says : "I noticed the Missel-Thrushes collect-
ing in flocks about the end of July, at which time they
usually become shy and difdcult of approach ; they breed
in the orchards, but each pair appears to consider the
ground for a certain distance around the nest private
property, driving away with the greatest fury any unfor-
tunate Magpie, Crow, Jay, &c., that presumes to invade
their territory."

This species was found in the Higham district, accord-
ing to the Rev. C. H. Fielding. Mr. G. Dowker includes
it in the Stourmouth district. Again the Rev. C. H.
Fielding says it is a common resident in Kent, and
adds it to his Birds of the Mailing Valley. In the
Rainham district, Mr. W. Prentis tells us that "a few
mild days in February the Missel-Thrush begins to
enliven us with its song, being the first of the Thrashes
to remind us of the time of year ; builds the latter
end of March, making its nest and laying its eggs in
either an apple or pear tree in our orchards."

Captain Boyd Alexander mentions the " Missel-Thrush "
as found in the Cranbrook district.

4 THE BIRDS OF KENT

During short visits to the beach at Dungeness by Mr.
Thomas Hepburn in 1900, he says : " On May 10 I found
a nest of Ttirdus viscivorns in one of the clumps of elder
and holly bushes which are a feature of this stretch of
beach. The nest was in the fork of an elder bush not
more than three feet above the ground. The outside of
the nest was made almost entirely of sheep's wool, with
a few sticks entangled in it, and was neatly lined with
fine grass. It contained four young birds about a week
old. July 16 to 21, noticed considerable numbers of
these birds on the grass-lands and meadows which join
the beach. They seemed to be mostly young birds."

In the observations on birds in the neighbourhood
of New Komney and Littlestone-on-Sea in 1902, Mr.
E. Y. M. Elms writes : May 19, " came across three
Missel-Thrushes' nests, all built in most conspicuous
positions and easy of access. They were all empty, and,
as there were no fragments of egg-shells in any of them,
it appeared they must have been pilfered of their con-
tents. One nest in particular had an extraordinary
amount of sheep's wool in its composition — in fact, the
builder evidently was completely nonplussed as how to
properly use so large a piece, with the consequence that
half of it was blowing about like a small flag — a very
advertisement of the nest's whei-eabouts."

Mr. E. T. Filmer tells us that the Missel-Thrush is
" common " about Orlestone, and is plentiful all over
the adjoining districts. Captain J. D. Cameron also
states that the Missel-Thrush is found in the district
of Bethersden.

SONG-THRUSH 5

SONG-THEUSH.

Turdus nuisiciis, Linnaeus. /S'.iV., i., p. 29-2 (1766).
Throstle, Mavis, Grey-Bird.

This bird is abundant throughout the county ; 5'ou
cannot walk along a lane, across a field, through a park,
or enter a large garden without noticing a Thrush at all
times in the 3^ear. The young birds, of course, are more
conspicuous in all directions after they leave the nest
and when they are ]ust able to fly about, and again in
autumn when they resort to the homestead for food and
shelter.

This Thrush becomes extremely tame and sociable, and
wild bred birds, reared close to the house, have been
known to the inhabitants to approach within a few feet
of them without flight or fear.

In the spring, when the birds pair and have selected
a position for the nest, the male bird finds a perch on
the top of the nearest tall tree, and there you may find
him regularly, morning and evening, and no doubt
during the intervals he is busy with the female con-
structing the nest, which is sure to be not far off. These
nests, unfortunately, are so conspicuous in early spring
that it is a wonder how so many escape the bird's-nester.
So trustful are the birds that they build their nests in
low stunted bushes or hedgerows along the roadsides,
where you can actually look in on the eggs, generally
3 to 4 feet above the ground.

The birds themselves will scarcely move, even when
the nest is closely approached. The eggs, being blue, also
attract immediate attention.

The nest of this species is nearly always lined with

b THE BIRDS OF KENT

a mud mixture, but from the following account by Mr.
H. F. Witherby, of Blackheath, it appears that some
nests are made without mud : —

" On April 20 (1893) I found three nests of the Song-
Thrush, T Urdus mtisicus, two of which contained four
eggs and the third three eggs. None of these nests had
any trace of mud in them. One of them, which I have
kept, is made entirely of grass, the lining of the inside
being a little finer in texture than the outside. The
inside of the nest is left in a very rough state, and the
grass is not woven together at all neatly, but looks as
though the bird had intended to line it in the usual way,
but was not able to obtain any. No doubt the reason
for this is the remarkably dry season. I might say that
these nests were found on some downs, while others found
near a river within a mile of the downs were formed in
the usual manner."

The colour of the egg of the Thrush is a beautiful pale
blue, more or less spotted, and streaked with black and
dark brown. Mr. A. G. Butler, who has paid great
attention to British birds' eggs, gives the following notes
of several found in Kent : Eggs " normal form, Sitting-
bourne, May 24 ; Kodmersham, May 27 ; Barming, June 8.
Var. a, streaked at large end, like a bunting's egg,
with brown, Eodmersham, May 23 ; var. b, all the
spots extremely small, Murston, May 26 ; var. c, much
elongated, Sittingbourne, May 27 ; var. d, the black
spots at the small end, Barming, June 7 ; var. e, all
the spots pale brown, not rounded, Barming, June 8."
The eggs vary much in size and markings, even in the
same nest. On May 18 a nest was found containing four
beautiful young Thrushes, with fine bold black eyes,
nearly able to Hy ; this nest was placed in a whitethorn,

SONG-THRUSH 7

by the side of a path through a small wood ; the nest
was on a line with the face of the passer-by, and it was
almost impossible to pass it without seeing the young
ones. Another nest containing five young birds just able
to fly (May 25) was placed in an old farze-bush about
4 feet from the ground, and formed a very pretty picture,
with the fine marking of the breasts and bright eyes of
the young birds.

In Boys' Birds of Sandicich, 1792, this bird appears
under the name of " Throstle." In 1844 the Eev. J.
Pemberton Bartlett says these " heralds of approaching
spring are abundant in Kent." Mr. C. Collingwood, in
his notes on the Birds of the Neighbourhood of Black-
heath, states that the Thrush commences to sing on
February 5, and recommenced to sing on October 19.
The Song-Thrush may be heard during warm days
throughout the winter. We gather from the MS. notes
left by Mr. H. Lamb, that the Thrush is very numerous
and breeds in the Maidstone district, and sings nearly
all the winter in the town gardens during mild weather.
In the autumn of 1879 he saw this bird eating yew
berries in Ulcombe churchyard. The Kev. C. H. Fielding
says it is found in the Higham district, and resident
all the year in Kent, and that it is a resident all the
year in the Mailing valley. It is distributed over the
whole of Komney Marsh down to Dungeness. Accord-
ing to Mr. Walter Prentis, of Kainham, " The Song-
Thrush begins to warble forth its charming song at
the beginning of February, and enlivens us at bright
intervals throughout the month." It is also plentiful,
Captain J. D. Cameron tells us, in the Bethersden dis-
trict. Mr. T. Hepburn found it "nesting in the patches
on the beach at Dungeness." In the Orlestone district

a THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. R. T. Filmer says it is " common and breeds there."
In South, West and North Kent it appears to be just as
abundant as in East Kent.

Writing about the birds of the Cranbrook district,
Captain Boyd Alexander says : " The severe drought (189(j)
has at length abated ; while it lasted things looked dis-
tressed. The dark foliage of copse and hedgerow stood
out in bold relief against the brown of the parched-up
pasture-lands, cropped close, and in places to the very
roots, by grazing sheep and cattle. In bird-life the
scarcity of food became also felt. It was quite a painful
sight to witness Thrushes and Blackbirds on the parched-
up fields, engaged in their spasmodic ramblings after
worms which they could not get. Premature migration
became general with Missel- and Song-Thrashes, and
also with Blackbirds, when the currants and raspberries
in our gardens no longer afforded them subsistence."

KEDWING.

T Urdus iliacus, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 292 (176G).

It is well known among naturalists that Eedwings
are only winter visitors to this country.

The following notes respecting its arrival in this
county have been given. Mr. G. W. Hulke, in his
list of the arrivals of winter visitors at Deal, gives
October 14. In the Eainham marshes Mr. F. D. Power
says : "First seen on October 9. On the morning of the
21st a considerable migration of these birds took place
in a south-westerly direction."

Mr. W. Prentis writes : " They come in autumn, the
latter end of October, in small numbers. Should the

EEDWING 9

winter be severe, they suffer equally with the Song-
Thrush."

Eedwings were first observed in the Mersham district
on November 24, and they increased in numbers in
January, and remained in the woodsides about Bilsing-
ton and Euckinge up to the end of March, and appeared
then to be going north. It is also mentioned hi the
" Higham district" and the "Mailing valley" by the
Eev. C. H. Fielding. Mr. H. Lamb says : " It is
common in the Maidstone district," and he saw a flock
of about a dozen in December, 1878, in the Loose
valley, and they seem especially fond, he says, " of
poking about amongst dead leaves and in the open fields
in mild weather, and I have seen it near Maidstone as
late as the first week in April."

Captain J. D. Cameron tells us that it visits the
Bethersden district. In the Birds of East Kent, Mr.
G. Dowker states that the Eedwing is "common," and
he says, " I have known of its breeding here," without
giving any reference or particulars on the subject. The
Eev. G. Pemberton Bartlett remarks that " Eedwings
generally arrive a short time before the Fieldfares in
Kent, but depart about the same time." According to
Lord Clifton, " Eedwings, in 1867-68, were tolerably
abundant at Cobham, Kent." It is included in Boys'
Birds of Sandwich, 1792.

In the Orlestone and surrounding neighbourhood Mr.
E. T. Filmer states " that it is a common winter visitant."
Some specimens in the Maidstone Museum were shot
at Boxley, one of which is a pale, buff-coloured bird.
One that was picked up dead under the telegraph wires,
close to Ham Street, Kent, by Mr. E. G. Eogers, on
January 22, 1906, had no doubt struck the wires. In

10 THE BIRDS OF KENT

•the Bulletin of the B.O.C., voL xvii., it is reported that
the Kedwing was taken on April 28, at Long Sand
Lighthouse, Kent. Keferring to Mr. G. Dowker's note
above, respecting the breeding of Redwings in Kent,
the only confirmation of this that can be found is given
by Mr. A. Kennard in the Zoologist, 1886. He says :
"A nest of this bird has been found at Cranbrook, Kent.
Of the identity of the species I am quite sure, for the
bird vi^as killed on the riest, and proved to be a Redwing."
On looking over the Rev. C. Swainson's book of Pro-
vincial Names and Folk Lore of British Birds, the
following curious story may be extracted : —

"A rushing, rustling sound is heard in the English
Channel on the dark, still nights in winter, and is called
the 'herring spear,' or 'herring piece,' by the fishermen
of Dover and Folkestone. This is caused by the flight
of those pretty little birds, the Redwings, as they cross
the Channel on their way to warmer regions. The
fishermen listen to the sound with awe, yet regard it,
on the whole, as an omen of good success with their
nets" — quoting Dr. Buckland's Curiosities of Natural
History, Series II., 285-6.

FIELDFARE.

Tttrdus pilaris, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 291 (1766).
Felt, and Pigeon-Fieldfare.

The Fieldfare is a regular winter visitor to this
county ; the numbers vary according to the severity of
the seasons. Some years they appear in large flocks,
and scatter over the more open country, especially along
the lanes and fields that are largely surrounded by haw-

FIELDFARE 11

thorn bushes, the berries of which form their principal
food, and it is only in very hard and trying weather that
they become tame and easy of approach ; should the
winter remain mild and open, they are wild and difficult
to get at, on account of their keeping to the highest
trees in the vicinity of the food. They are the wildest
and most wary birds that visit this country, and must be
driven by very severe weather to come near or approach
the habitation of man, and their wild, rough, rattling
alarm-notes soon give notice to all other birds that
danger is at hand.

In Boys' Birds of Sanchoich, 1792, the Fieldfare is
included among the birds. According to the Eev. J.
Pemberton Bartlett, who wrote in 1844, it was " very
abundant through the winter. They arrive in Kent
about the middle of October, and take their departure
about the end of April. Stragglers are occasionally seen
early in May."

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, states that
it visits East Kent in large flocks in winter. In the
Maidstone district, Mr. H. Lamb says, "It is common in
winter. In hard weather this handsome bird may often
be seen almost in the town, on holly, yew and hawthorn
trees, feeding on the berries. I saw several flocks of birds
on January 11, 1879, pass over Maidstone, principally
Fieldfares." In the Higham district and in the Mailing
valley, the Eev. C. H. Fielding says it is " among our
winter visitors." Writing on the immigration of Field-
fares in the Zoologist, 1887, Mr. W. Prentis, of Kainham,
says: "On November 8 we were visited by numerous
flocks of Fieldfares, all flying in the same direction, from
east to west, the flights continuous and following each
other at short intervals. They did not deviate from their

12 THE BIRDS OF KENT

course in the least, but each flock followed in the direc-
tion of the one before it. They flew low, just topping
the hedges and woods ; a few in the dusk of evening
struck against the telegraph wires on our railway ; five
were picked up and brought to nie in the evening. I
observed a similar occurrence, in vastly superior numbers,
in the autumn of 1878, just previous to the two following
severe winters, since which time Fieldfares about here
have been scarce. A cream-coloured variety was shot
December, 1878." Among the birds of Rainham given bv
Mr. F. D. Power in 1869 is the Fieldfare, and in his
notes, " None were observed until October 20, and not
many arrived by the end of the month. Not a numerous
species here at any time." The date of the arrival of the
Fieldfare at Deal is given by Mr. G. W. Hulke as " Octo-
ber 21." " Last year (1848) I was several times deceived,
takmg small flocks of Missel-Thrushes for early Field-
fares ; but was soon convinced to the contrary. This
year (1849) Fieldfares and Redwings were very plentiful
on October 21, and in order to satisfy myself as to the
reality, I shot specimens of them both."

Writing from Cobham in Kent in 1868, Lord Clifton
says : " Fieldfares have been very scarce, and I never
saw more than two or three at a time. Last year (1867)
Fieldfares were very abundant, large numbers appearing
on January 3." Mr. G. Young says : " Although during
the past winter (1883-4) I was constantly in different
parts of the country, including Kent, I never saw a single
specimen of the Fieldfare or Redwing.

Fieldfares were first observed this year (1905-6) on
November 16, near Bilsington, and on the 24th on the
hills near Mersham, and also on the 27th about the
marshes below Bilsington, and they remained in that

BLACKBIRD 13

district up to January 23 and 24. Mr. E. T. Filmer
says that it is not "as common as it used to be" in the
Orlestone district. One was shot out of a large flock
close to Boxley Abbey, March 6, 1868. It was found in
flocks at Horton Green, on March 19, 1902, which were
the last seen in that district, and the last obtained in the
Orlestone district this year (1906) was on February 4
and April 4. It is also included in the birds of Bethers-
den by Captain J. D. Cameron (1906).

In the Zoologist, 1864, Mr. J. A. Clarke says : " My
friend, Mr. R. M. Presland, possesses a Fieldfare, which
he shot at Gravesend on July 8, 1864. Is it not very
late for this bird of passage ? He sent it to me to
preserve, and on opening the bird I found three eggs
formed, about the size of a horse-bean."

The reference respecting its breeding in Kent is made
on the authority of Morris in his Historij of British
Birds, vol. iii., p. 33. He says : "A nest has been found,
it is related, in Kent." As no other particulars are
forthcoming regarding this short note, we have come to
the conclusion that the breeding of the Fieldfare in Kent
is a mistake.

BLACKBIED.

Turdus vierula, Limiceus. S.N., i., p. '295 (1766).

Towards October the Blackbirds begin to collect in
large numbers, especially under the hills, and in the large

thick hedges along the winding roads which intersect the
whole of Romney Marsh. On October 10 numbers of
these birds were observed massing in all directions along
the lanes from Ham Street, Euckinge, Bilsington, New-

14 THE BIRDS OF KENT

church, Snave and Ivychurch. October 16 was a brihiant,
warm, sunny morning, and the Blackbirds were still there
in great numbers, in sheltered lanes, sunning themselves,
preparatory to leaving for the south. On visiting these
places again on the 25th and 26th, the majority of these
birds had disappeared, leaving only a straggler here and
there. Among the hundreds observed while they were
collecting, it was noticed that although the males had
assumed the black plumage, very few had yellow bills,
showing that these batches were composed of young
birds of the year. The few old males with bright yellow
bills which were among them were perhaps their
leaders or guides in their migration. In the spring
no batches were observed coming back, although the
numbers of individuals and pairs spread over the
same district had largely increased, especially in the
Orlestone, AVarehorne, Kingsnorth, and Aldington dis-
tricts. Mr. E. T. Filmer says it was very common
about Orlestone and the neighbourhood.

The Blackbird is included in Boys' Birds of Sandicich,
1792. The Kev. G. Pemberton Bartlett in his Ornith-
ology of Kent {ZooL, 1844), says it is "abundant."
In his Birds Observed at Bainham, 1865, Mr. W. H.
Power writes: "Blackbirds and Thrushes appear very
fond of mulberries ; a tree in the garden was continually
under contribution. I have seen a Blackbird with his
head, throat and breast thoroughly stained with the
juice."

Mr. H. Lamb says this is a " common bird about
Maidstone, coming about the houses in winter and retir-
ing to the hedges and woods in the spring, where it
breeds." In the Bethersden district, according to Captain
J. D. Cameron, it is resident. Mr. W. Prentis, in his

BLACKBIRD 15

Birds of Bainham, says the "Blackbird frequents our
gardens all the year round." In the districts of Higham
and Mailing valley the Kev. C. H. Fielding states it is
resident. In the Birds of East Kent Mr. G. Dowker
places it among the " common residents," and gives also
the following references to localities : Nonington, W. 0.
Hammond ; Dover, C. Gordon ; Elmstone, Kev. W.
Baldock Delmar ; Walmer, Eev. B. Austen ; Folkestone,
H. Ullyet ; Dover, Plomley Collection.

Mr. W. 0. Hammond, of Wingham, gives instances of
birds flying against window-panes, and includes the Black-
bird and Thrush. Many of these birds are killed by the
force with which they come in contact with the glass.

In the Zoologist, 1895, Mr. A. G. Butler, of Beckenham,
mentions a " supposed hybrid between the Blackbird and
Thrush caught in his garden." We have not observed a
specimen of this kind yet.

The nests of the Blackbird are abundant enough in
the spring and early summer, and they are placed in the
most exposed places. On April 6, in the bottom of Burnt
Oak Wood, near Orlestone, Kent, a nest was found on
the ground with three eggs, under a small bramble.
Some nests are 4 or 5 feet from the ground, but generally
about 3 feet. Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds
of the beach at Dungeness, says : " This bird was also
nesting in the patches of bushes on the beach." Black-
birds are very often pied in various ways and sometimes
are pure white. Lord Clifton records a case in which
a " brood of white Blackbirds, four or five in number,
was found at Cobham, Kent, besides many pied
varieties." A white one was seen on September 15, at
Bromley Green, near Ashford. At Dover a Blackbird's
nest with two eggs was found on February 5, 1906.

16 THE BIRDS OF KENT

While bird's-nesting in Kent in 1875, Mr. A. G. Butler
gives the following notes respecting those and the eggs
he found : " Eodmersham, May 27 ; Sittingbourne, May
28 ; Bredgar, June 1 ; Banning, June 7, var. h, subcyhn-
drical, green, spotted with ferruginous ; Sittingbourne,
May 27, var. b, like some varieties of Missel-Thrush,
greyish-green, prettily mottled with ferruginous ; Sitting-
bourne, May 21, var. c, a brown zone at the large end ;
Bobbing, June 11." He also figures a white egg in
British Birds' Eggs, pi. xxxvii. It " was one of a pair
taken from an ordinary nest at Wateringbury, near
Maidstone."

Among the Birds in the Neighbourhood ofBIacJiJieath,
Mr. C. Collingwood states that the " Blackbirds com-
menced their song on March .5, 1854, and recom-
menced their song on August 4."

RING-OUZEL.

T Urdus forquatus, Linnaeus. S.N., i. p., 296 (1766).

The Eing-Ouzel is far from being plentiful in the
county of Kent. It may be that it is overlooked, on
account of its close resemblance to the Blackbird, and
there is no doubt that it keeps more to the higher hills
and elevated commons than to the low-lying districts.

On November 18, 1905, Mr. E. Bartlett, when
returning from a walk round, through Ham Street,
caught sight of a King-Ouzel in a field close to the
Court Lodge at Kuckinge, which is on the slopes over-
looking Komney Marsh. The bird turned round and
stood looking at him, therefore he had plenty of time
to identify it. There w^as a number of Blackbirds and

RING-OUZEL 17

Thrushes not far from it. This is the only one observed
in 1905-6.

Latham (1783) mentions that, " Now and then one
is met with in the more southern parts. Such an ih-
fated straggler was shot near Dartford." In the Topo-
graphy of Maidstone, 1839, it states that " a Eing-Ouzel
was shot at Detling about two j^ears since." In his
Ornithology of Kent the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
says, " Not uncommon in spring and autumn." Morris
says, " It is observed in spring and autumn while on its
migration in Kent." There are specimens in the Canter-
bury Museum obtained in Kent ; one was shot on the
Boxley Hills about 1865 ; and a male and femalein the
Maidstone Museum, procured by Mr. G. Simmons in
Kent. Another, in the same institution, was shot at
Boxley in Kent on May 2, 1884 by Mr. W. Hickmott.
Mr. H. Lamb remarks that " this is rather a late date
for this bird to occur here, I should think, and at any
time I believe it rarely occurs in this district." In his
Eggs of British Birds, Mr. H. Seebohm states that,
"it has also been known to breed in Kent." Mr. A. G.
Butler, in his British Birds' Eggs, says : " 1 have taken
the nests in Kent, both under a furze bush and from
the edge of a heathery moor under overhanging ling
at the top of a steep bank bounding a little-frequented
road." He figures the eggs on plate viii. We have the
following localities in which it has either been obtained
or observed. According to Mr. G. Dowker " the Eing-
Ouzel is, however, scarce, especially of late. I have
met with it in the Minster marshes and the Stour-
mouth district." Nonington, by Mr. W. Oxenden Ham-
mond ; Dover, C. Gordon ; Walmer, Rev. B. Austen ;
Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plomley Collection ;
2

18 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Cobham and Eamsgate, Kev. C. H. Fielding. Mr.
W. Prentis says : " The Eing-Ouzel passes tbrough
Rainham on its passage north in spring, south in
autumn. Always wild, choosing for its perch the tops
of trees." It is again mentioned in British Birds with
their Nests and Eggs (1903), by Mr. A. G. Butler, who
states, " It is known to have bred in the rocky parts of
Kent." No precise locality or data are given.

WHITE'S THKUSH.

Turdus varius, Pallas. Zoograjjhia Bosso-Asiatica,
i., p. 449 (1811). Turdus tvhitei, Eyton.
Barer Brit. Birds, p. 92 (1836).

We have no hesitation in retaining Lord Clifton's
record and observations on the occurrence of White's
Thrush at Cobham, Kent, and in doing so we have
added the comments of Mr. J. H. Gurney and Mr.
E. Newman.

There is no reason to doubt that a bird of such
powerful flight should not find its way into every part
of the country, seeking a suitable situation to establish
itself. An odd male or female would travel miles in a
very short time searching for a mate, and then leave
the country if not successful.

Strange Thrush. — " On January 5, 1871, I saw a bird
which, on its first rising from some dead leaves in a
wood, I mistook for a AVoodcock, to which its flight, or
the shape of its wings, or both, gave it a marked resem-
blance. On my advancing to the spot the bird again
rose from some dead leaves further on, and settled in

white's thrush 19

a low tree near me. I then saw that it was of the
Thrush family, and resembled the Missel-Thrush in size,
though differing so remarkably from that bird in flight
and habits. Disturbed from this tree, the bird flew off
with the same rapid, low. Woodcock-like flight to another
tree, perching on a very low branch, and then dropping
down among the dead leaves again, from which, when
again flushed, it flew back to its original feeding-ground.
T have shot, and shot at, many Woodcocks, and I am
quite sure that there are few sportsmen who would
not have raised their gun at it as a Woodcock. My
own opinion is that this bird was White's Thrush, but
I do not wish to force this opinion upon your readers.
I would merely remind them that the Woodcock -like
flight and terrestrial habits are among the characteristics
noted by Mr. K. F. Tomes in his description of White's
Thrush, quoted by Mr. Gould in his magnificent work,
The Birds of Great Britain. Clifton, September 26,
ISlir— Zoologist, 1871, p. 2845.

White's Thrush. — "It is a curious coincidence that
two specimens of this rare Thrush have been this year
(1871) recorded in the Zoologist as occurring on succeed-
ing days ; the first seen in Kent by Lord Clifton on
January 5 ; the other killed on January 6, at Langsford,
in Somersetshire, as noted by Mr. Cecil Smith, and
I take the liberty of calling attention to this interesting
approximation of dates." — J. H. Gurney, Jan., November,
ISl I. —Zoologist, 1872, p. 2912.

Collected Observations on White's Thrush.
(Turdus variiis. Pall.). By Edw. Newman.

After giving the records of eleven instances of the
bird having been procured, he says: "In addition to

20 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the specimens actually ' obtained,' several others may be
mentioned as 'seen.' Of these are three good instances."
The second Lord Clifton records, at p. 2845 of the Zoo-
logist for 1871, that on January 5 of that year he saw a
bird which, on rising from some dead leaves in a wood,
he mistook for a Woodcock, to which its flight, or the
shape of its wings, or both, gave it a marked resem-
blance. His lordship continues : " On my advancing to
the spot, the bird again rose from some dead leaves
further on, and settled on a low tree near me. I then
saw that it was of the Thrush family, and resembled
the Missel-Thrush in size, though differing so remarkabl}'
from that bird in flight and habits. Disturbed from
the tree, the bird flew off with the same rapid, low.
Woodcock-like flight to another tree, perching on a very
low branch, and then dropping down among the dead
leaves again. My own opinion is that this bird was
White's Thrush, but I do not wish to force this opinion
on your readers. I would merely remind them that
the Woodcock-like flight and terrestrial habits are among
the characteristics noted by Mr. R. F. Tomes in his
description of White's Thrush:'— Zoologist, 1874, p. 4052.

RED-BEEASTED THRUSH.

Turclus migratorius* Linnaeus. -8. iV., i., p. 292

(1766).

American Robin.

With regard to the occurrence of this species in Kent,
the only record of it is contained in a communication by
Mr. J. E. Harting to the Zoologist, 1877, which is sub-
joined. Although we do not agree to its being added to

BED-BREASTED THRUSH 21

the (truly speaking) British or Kentish birds, still it is
an accidental visitor. Ko doubt the bird escaped from
a passing up-Channel vessel.

Mr. J. E. Harting, w^riting on the North American
birds found in England, says: "I have now to add
another to the list of Passerine birds, in the shape of
the American Migratory Thrush {Turdus migratorius),
familiarly known as the American Robin. In the month
of September last (1876) I received a letter from Lieu-
tenant Charles Pope, of the 24th Regiment, then stationed
at Dover, in which he informed me that a friend of his
had in his possession, alive, a remarkable coloured Thrush
which he was unable to identify. It had been observed
to fly in from the sea in a very exhausted state on a wet,
windy day during the previous month of April (or May,
he was not sure which), and perched upon the first
resting-place which presented itself, the balcony of a
house facing the sea at Dover, had suffered itself to be
frightened in through an open window, and eventually
caught. It lived in a small wicker cage from April until
September, when I first heard of it, and although the
plumage became nmch soiled by confinement, it remained
in good health. From a description and sketch which
Lieutenant Pope forwarded, I had no doubt from the first
that the bird was the North American Red-breasted Thrush,
but it was not until two months later that I was enabled
to pronounce with certainty upon the species. Being
unable to refer to any of the works on American Orni-
thology to which I had referred him, Lieutenant Pope
prevailed upon his friend to forward the bird to me in
London, and I duly received it on November 6 last. My
surmise was correct : it was undoubtedly T. migratorius.
With the Secretary's permission, I at once placed it in

22 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the Western Aviai\y in the Zoological Societ3''s Gardens,
where it may still be seen in good health, and in much
improved plumage.

" Now, how did this bird get to Dover ? On mj"^ men-
tioning the circumstances of its capture to Mr. A. D.
Bartlett, whose long experience as Superintendent of the
Zoological Society's Gardens gives weight to his opinion
in such matters, he was inclined to believe that it had
escaped from some homeward-bound vessel in the Channel,
and had made for the nearest land ; a view which he
thought was strengthened by the fact that the bird when
he received it was very tame.

" In this I do not quite concur, for I imagine that
most homeward-bound vessels from New York return to
Liverpool and not via Dover ; while the bird's tameness
is easily accounted for by the fact that when Mr. Bartlett
received it into his care it had already been in captivity
for about six months. I am thus disposed to regard this
as a genuine case of involuntary immigration. Many
such cases are already on record, and although this
particular species is not known with certainty to have
occurred here before, it has been met with on more than
one occasion on the European continent, and, from its
migratory habits, is just one of those birds which one
would naturally expect now and then to arrive." — J. E,
Harting, Zoologist, 1877, p. 14.

"Mr. Harting forgot that a vast number of European
vessels are continually passing up the English Channel
for Continental ports from American ports. The majority
of the German vessels carry a horde of live mammals and
birds, as pets and for profit. If a bird escaped no further
trouble would be taken about it, and the owner would
never see the Zoologist or hear of the bird's capture in

WHEATEAE, 23

England. Singular that it should be found on the most
eastern point in England, instead of the nearest western
side to America." — E. Bartlett.

Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein.

WHEATEAE.

Saxicola oenanthe (Linnsus). S.N., i., p. 332 (1766).
"Wagtail."

There is no doubt that the Wlieatear has become
greatly reduced in numbers of late years throughout the
county, but in some seasons they are more abundant
than others ; perhaps this may be accounted for by the
birds having escaped the trappers and bird's-nesting boys ;
and again, cultivation, the large increase of population in
the localities in which the birds breed, have all helped to
drive them away. Years ago many pairs used to breed
on the range of chalk hills above Boxley Abbey, and all
along that range for miles from east to west, but they
have now deserted that locality.

Last year and this (1906) we noticed the scarcity of
Wheatears in all the districts from Ashford to Mersham,
and the slopes of hills above Romney Marsh, and in the
Marsh itself. They become more plentiful on the great
sea beach at Lydd and Dungeness, where they are not so
easy to get at, and have a better chance of rearing their
young.

On June 7 we found a pair which had taken possession
of a rabbit-burrow on the hillside on the road to Lympne ;
the nest was too far down to be reached by the arm.
The male bird became frantic at our approach, and went

24 THE BIRDS OF KENT

through a performance of rolhng over, spreading its wings
and tail, turning somersaults, lying down, shammmg
death, itc. A pair bred in a mound of ant-hill turf at
Orlestone in 1904-5. It is occasionally seen, according to
Mr. E. T. Filmer, in the Orlestone district, but is not
so common as at liye. It is included in Boys' Birds
of Saiidivich, 1792. Mr. J. Pemberton Bartlett states
(1844) that it was " common in Romney Marsh." Among
the arrivals of summer birds at Shooter's Hill in 1846,
Mr. M. Hutchinson " met a stray Wheatear on Wool-
wich Common on April 30, and on April 17, 1866, he
saw two Wheatears on Blackheath — one among the furze
at the north-east corner of the heath ; and the other,
a fine male in splendid plumage, to the south-west of the
Tumulus." Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed
at Raiiiham, 1865, says : " They appeared as usual in
the spring and autumn, on migration. From its dis-
appearance during the summer months, I fancy it seldom
breeds in the locality."

In the Maidstone Museum there are four eggs, taken
at Boxley in Kent, by Mr. A. Harris, in 1878, but Mr. H.
Elgar says they " no longer breed in this locality." It
used to " breed in the railway cutting, near Allington,
some years ago, according to Mr. H. Lamb, and it was
not uncommon in 1876 on the Boxley range, and bred in
the rabbit-burrows on the chalk hills and other places,
and he saw it in early spring on the large fields above the
Maidstone Cemetery, at Allington and at Barnnng, but
only when migrating." In 1882 the Eev. C. H. Fielding
adds it to the list of " birds found at Higham." In Mr.
A. G. Butler's British Birds' Eggs, 1886, he says : "I have
hitherto only met with the nest once in Kent ; it was
placed in a hole in the side of a bank enclosing a water-

WHEATEAB 25

cress stream, in which place it had bred for several suc-
cessive years : when I saw it no eggs had been deposited."
In the Birds of East Kent, 1889, by Mr. G. Dowker, who
says it is " common in his district," the following localities
are given : Nonington, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond ;
Dover, Mr. C. Gordon ; Elmstone, Kev. W. B. Delmar ;
Walmer, Rev. B. Austen ; Dover, Mr. G. Gray ; Folke-
stone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plomley collection. The Eev.
C. H. Fielding includes it among the Birds of the Mailing
Valley. Mr. W. Prentis, in the Birds of Bainham, 1894,
says: "The AVheatear, coming in March, is the first
spring arrival. I have noticed some few in summer-time
flitting along our marsh walls, probably breeding in
between the blocks of stone used for supporting the
embankment." In the Zoologist, 1896, we cull from the
ornithological notes from Romney Marsh, written by
Captain Boyd Alexander, the following : " The presence
here of the Wheatear can hardly escape the notice of the
most unobservant. The curious sites chosen by these
birds for their nests — and especially is this the case down
here — is no safeguard against intrusion, but rather, if
anything, the exact opposite, for it seems to linger in the
memory of the bird's-nesting boy, with the result that
every tin can, kettle and empty shell is zealously turned
over and examined, when the Wheatear's treasure is very
often found. Though the first nest be taken, it is not
uncommon to find the same site occupied again for the
second lay. I came across a nest on the ' Lydd Beach'
this summer (1896) under a turned-over pig-trough.
The hole by which the bird gained access to its nest was
no larger than that of a mouse. Another was found in
an empty four-pounder shell — a good example, truly, of
' peace and war.' The crevices in the gabion casemates

26 THE BIRDS OF KENT

here are also frequently chosen. Again, it is not unusual
here to find the Wheatear's nest in a depression on the
bare beach. In a case like this dry grass alone is used^
the nest resembling then a large edition of the Lark's.
The normal feather-hning is absent, and m this wa}^ con-
spicuousness is nicely avoided. If not disturbed, I fancy
the AVheatear returns annually to the same nesting-site."

On May 10 and 14, 1900, Mr. T. Hepburn found the
Wheatear " nesting everywhere. Found two nests in
crevices of the military earthworks, one in an empty shell-
case and another in an empty tin can. The eggs in one of
the nests were fresh, in the other hard set. June 3 to 4 :
Found a nest with three fresh eggs in a crack in a bank
of earth. July 16 to 21 : Old and young birds all over
the beach and adjacent meadows."

In his Notes on the Birds of Bomney Marsh and Little-
stone," May 18, 1902, Mr. E. F. M. Elms writes : " Saxicola
(jenanthe. A pretty, conspicuous bird, and abundant
throughout the district, more especially on the waste
lands and the golf-links. Incubation had not apparently
become general, and, as a consequence, very few birds
flew up from their nesting-holes. One nest only brought
to light to-day, and contained five fresh eggs, slightly
pear-shaped. May 20 : Flushed a Wheatear from a small
hole (certainly not a rabbit-burrow) in some open and
rather broken ground, near the golf-links. Some withered
stalks were scattered at the entrance to the hole, some
just inside, but the nest itself was entirely invisible from
the outside, and, if the soil had not been loose and givmg,
I doubt whether I should have tracked the nest at all.
The nesting-cavity contained a fairly compact structure —
certainly more compact and bulky than was necessary
in such a protected situation — composed of dead grass

WHEATEAR 27

and lined with a little hair and wool. From the ground-
line to the nest-cavity the distance was a good elbow's
length, and the cavity itself was a cul-de-sac branching
out of the main hole. This clutch was of six eggs and
they were of a much sturdier build than those I had the
day before yesterday. Wheatears are called ' Wagtails '
by the boys."

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes in the Birds of Nortli
Kent, 1904, says that between Woolwich and Rochester
" the Wheatear is fairly common in the eastern portion
of the district during spring and summer, a few pairs
also nesting in holes near the sea-wall, but is seldom to
be seen any distance away from it ; it, in fact, uses the
sea-wall as a vantage ground, flitting along in front of
the intruder. A full-fledged family, last June (1908), were
still making use of their nesting-hole as a retreat, long
after they were able to fly. In the autumn, family
parties of old birds and the young of the year are very
numerous."

We have seen the bird on the hills above Trotterscliffe
and the district. Mr. J. H. Allchin saw a flock passing
over Maidstone early in March, 1906. It is a visitor
to the Bethersden district according to Captain J. D.
Cameron.

In the report of the immigration of summer residents
in the spring of 1905, we find the arrivals of the Wheat-
ear are given as follows : April 2, 1905, Kent, and May 8,
1905, Kent Lights (many), but the bird is observed much
earlier than the above dates in many parts of Kent, accord-
ing to all the above observers.

28 THE BIRDS OF KENT

BLACK-THEOATED WHEATEAE.

Saxicola stapazina (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet., xxi.,
p. 425 (1818).

At a meeting of the British Ornithological Club, held
on June 20, 1906, " Dr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited an
adult male of this species. The bird was shot between
Lydd and Brooklands, in Kent, on May 23, 1906, by a
labouring man, and Dr. Ticehurst saw it on May 24.
The bird was perfectly fresh." — {Bulletin of the B.O.C.,
vol. xvi., p. 124, 1906).

Genus PRATINCOLA, Koch.

WHINCHAT.

Pratiiicola ruhetra (Linnseus). >S'.iV., i., p. 332

(176G).

The Whinchat is certainly less abundant than the
Wheatear in Kent. The habit of this species is to keep
more to the inland parts of the country, affecting fields
that are partly surrounded by woods, copse and hedges,
on which they can rest and keep watch over the nests,
which are placed on the ground in the grass a few yards
from their perch, and they always take advantage of any
elevated ground or mound, large stones or posts. In
some large fields two or three pairs will take up positions
for breeding.

Writing in 1783, Latham says: "I have seen them
in Kent throughout the year." Boys, in his Birds of
Sandwich, 1792, calls it " Winchat." Mudie in 1835,
says: "It is probable that the Whinchat retires in the

WHINCHAT 29

latter part of the season from all its more northerly
breeding places, but that a few pass the winter in Kent
and Sussex, even in places where they rarely breed in
the summer." In his Ornithology of Kent, 1844, the
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states that the Whinchat is
" common."

In the Zoologist, 1844, Mr. M. Hutchinson writes :
" For hours and hours during the spring of 1843 I listened
with mournful pleasure to the plaintive and melodious
strains of a beautiful Whinchat. It had many times
soothed my sorrowful heart, and for some days I had
been anxiously and constantly watching and hoping for
the return of my feathered friend. My heart leaped with
joy when I again heard the well-known voice of m_y
pretty Whinchat on the morning of April 18, 1844. I
soon spied my old favourite ; for even among birds the
course of true love runs not always smooth. No sooner
had a sturdy Stonechat, located in the same whins,
discovered my Whinchat, than, thinking the newcomer's
company much too near to be pleasant, he flew at him
like a fury, and would not let my little dear have a
moment's peace, nor allow him to settle down comfort-
ably, until in a few days the arrival of the Whinchat's
lawful partner appeared to satisfy him that his cousin
meant no mischief.

" On April 23, 1845, exactly on the same spot as last
year at Shooter's Hill, I heard the plaintive note of the
Whinchat some time before I could find him. On May
18 I noticed about a dozen male Whinchats in the
Eltham Eoad, apparently resting in their journey north-
wards. On April 15, 1846, I was much gratified at
meeting with my especial favourite, the Whinchat, on
Shooter's Hill ; the pretty bird, perched on a sprig of

30 THE BIRDS OF KENT

furze, his colours modest and beautifal, his foriu elegant
and compact, sang his plaintive and pleasing melody.
On April 30, 1861, saw one Whinchat at Kidbrooke,
springing" up catching gnats. On April 23, 1866, strolled
round to the south-west face of Shooter's Hill ; saw one
Whinchat and one Redstart alternately take possession
of the elevated stump of an old tree ; down went the
Whinchat to seize its prey, up went the Redstart ; the
moment he darted down, up went the Whinchat. On
April 27, 1866, in a walk by Kidbrooke, I saw two
Whinchats."

Morris, in his Historij of British Birds, says the
Whinchat is " one of the most common visitors in
Surrey, Sussex and Kent." Mr. C. Collingwood gives the
date of its " arrival at Farm Lane, Lee, Kent, as May 4,
1854." While bird's-nesting in Kent, Mr. A. G. Butler
found a nest at Bobbing, " on June 11, 1875, with
young birds in it. The nest was placed in a bramble
through which furze was growing."

Mr. H. Lamb, in his Birds of the Maidstone District,
says that it is " not common here. Last year (1875) I
found a nest with eggs in it, under the eaves of a barn
near Farleigh, which I thought unusual, as it builds
on the ground," Mr. R. J. Balston made a note in
which he says : "I believe I saw a pair of these birds on
March 21, 1868, on Boxley Warren, but although I
watched and followed, could not get sufficiently near
them to be certain." It is also included in the Birds of
Higham, by the Rev. C. H. Fielding. There are speci-
mens in the Maidstone Museum, obtained at Linton in
August, 1888, and October 25, 1889, by Mr. H. Kennard.
In the Birds of East Kent, 1889, Mr. G. Dowker says it
is " moderately common," including Nonington, W. 0.

STONECHAT 31

Hauimond ; Dover, C. Gordon ; Waliner, Rev. B. Austen ;
Dover, G. Gray ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plom-
ley Collection. Cobhani, Carton, Ifield and Mailing
Valley, Rev. C. H. Fielding.

In the Birds of Bainham Mr, W. Prentis writes that
the Whinchat " comes in April. A pair frequented a
narrow coppice on my farm in 1886. On mowing clover
a nest was discovered containing four blue eggs, built on
the ground ; the scythe cut clean over it. The hay-makers
were puzzled, never having seen blue eggs in such a
place before. It was at least 50 yards from the hedge."
In 1902 Mr. T. Hepburn observed " a pair on the marsh-
land at Dungeness."

In the Bulletin of the B.O.C , 1906, the date of the
arrival of the Whinchat in Kent is March 15, 1905.

STONECHAT.

Pratincola ruhicola (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 332
(1766).

Furze-Chat.

The Stonechat is far from being a common bird in
any part of Kent, although it is more often met with
on the higher inland furze and heather-covered commons
and hills, which it prefers. In the winter it descends
to the valleys and lowlands for shelter. In the summer
we have seen it and the young birds on the heather-
covered hills near Tunbridge Wells, on the Boxley Hills
and Blackheath. The first Stonechats met with in
Romney Marsh were on December 17, and they remained
about the stunted bushes and ditches during the greater
part of the winter. We have one which was obtained

32 THE BIRDS OP KENT

by Mr. E. G. Eogers in February, 1903, at Ivychurch,
in Eomney Marsh. In his notes on the birds of the
Orlestone district, Mr. E. T. Fihner states that a pair
or two are " usually seen on the railway line, on the
Ashford side of Golden Wood, for a few days in spring,
and then disappear." The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
writing in 1844, says the Stonechat is " common in
Kent." Among the birds mentioned by Mr. M. Hutchin-
son at Shooter's Hill is the Stonechat : "I heard the
chirp of the Stonechat on April 16, 1844." Mr. W. H.
Power, in his observations on the birds of Eainham,
says it is " a resident species, in the summer fre-
quenting the higher ground, where it breeds ; in the
winter appearing on the marshes, where I first noticed
it this season on September 29, 1865." In Mr. H.
Lamb's notes, he says it is " not common about Maid-
stone." It is included in the birds of Kent by the
Eev. C. H. Fielding in his Handbook of Higham, 1882.
Specimens in the Maidstone Museum were procured
at Linton, on March 30, 1888, and October 25, 1889,
by Mr. H. Kennard, and another in Eomney Marsh,
by Mr. J. D. Parker. In the Birds of East Kent, by
Mr. G. Dowker, the Stonechat is said to be "resident and
moderately common." It is also mentioned from the
following localities : Nonington, W.O.Hammond; Dover,
C. Gordon ; Walmer, Eev. B. Austen ; Dover, Plomley
Collection. It "frequently occurs in the Mailing valley,"
according to the Eev. C. H. Fielding. Mr. W. Prentis,
in his Birds of Bainham, 1894, says " the Stonechat is
more common with us in winter than in summer."

REDSTART 33

Genus RUTICILLA, C. L. Brehm.

EEDSTAET.

Piuticilla x>hoeniciiriis (Linn^us). /S.iV"., i., p. 335

(1766).

The immigration of the Eedstart into Kent appears to
be rather erratic, and its movements uncertain. Some
years they make their appearance in numbers, and in
others are extremely rare. There is no doubt that the
Redstart arrives in Kent in early spring, and then they
spread out north and west into the more inland parts
of the country to breed, although, when numerous, in
some seasons they remain to breed sparingly in several
parts of the county.

In 1792 Boys included the Eedstart in the Birds of
Sanchcich. We also find it mentioned in Mudie's
British Birds, 1835. In the Eev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett's Ornitliologij of Kent {Zoologist, 1844), he states
that the Eedstart is " common. They arrive here about
the first week in April, and leave towards the end of
August." There is no doubt in those days the Eedstart
was numerous enough, but collectors, bird-catchers and
others did the mischief, and we must take into account
the enormous number that are destroyed on the Con-
tinent on immigration, therefore the numbers are greatly
diminished.

The following dates are given of the earliest observa-
tions of the arrival of the Eedstart at " Shooter's Hill,
April 5, 1844 ; Blackheath, April 17, 1861 ; April 19,
1866, saw one Eedstart on the iron rails round the
Deodara in Greenwich Park. April 23, strolled round
3

34 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the south-west face of Shooter's Hill, saw one Kedstart.
May 4, 1866, the Kedstart in Greenwich Park had picked
up a wife, and comfortable enough they looked." —
Mr. Hutchinson. Morris, in his History of British
Birds, notes that "it occurs iti Cornwall and Wales, as
well as in Yorkshire and Kent." Mr. C. Collingwood,
in his notes on the arrival of summer birds, says : " The
Redstart appeared at Blackheath on April 13, 1854, and
at Greenwich Park." In Birds observed at Bainliam,
by Mr. W. H. Power, the Redstart is said to be " an
uncertain visitant, occurring some years in numbers,
at other times not to be found at all. In April, 1862,
these birds were exceedingly common, while this spring
(1865) I only observed two, although constantly on the
look out for them. They generally make their appear-
ance as soon as the cherry orchards are in bloom, and
may constantly be heard (when in numbers) till the
bloom begins to fall ; they then appear to move inland,
a few pairs only remaining to breed." Mr. A. G. Butler,
in his Bird's-nesting in Kent, mentions a nest " taken
by Mr. H. Bonnie, at Murston." In the Maidstone
district the Redstart, Mr. H. Lamb writes (1876), "is
one of those birds which has been, no doubt, common,
but now I think it is rarely seen, in comparison to most
of the warblers. I saw one at Tovil a few years ago."_
Mr. R. J. Balston says : " I have seen it near Boxley
late in the fifties." There is a pair of Kentish specimens
in the Maidstone Museum, given by Mr. G. Simmons,
and Mr. H. Lamb also mentions it at King's AVood. AVe
find it also in Hcuidhook of Higham, by the Rev. C. H.
Fielding, and at Nonington, W. 0. Hammond ; Dover,
C. Gordon ; Elmstone, Rev. AY. B. Delmar ; AA' aimer,
Rev. B. x\usten ; Dover, G. Gray ; Folkestone, H.
UUyett ; and the Plomley Collection, Dover.

BLACK REDSTART 35

lu the Birds of East Kent Mr. G. Dowker says the
Eedstart is "moderately common, scarce of late, which
used to be called the Common Eedstart. I find it now
anything but common. True, it may be met with in
some localities in tolerable abundance ; in the more
secluded parts, for instance, of the chalk district, where
hedgerows of wild dogwood and guelder rose, entwined
with woodbine and clematis, form its sheltering bower.
But here, where I ofttimes met with the beautiful little
bird, it is now found no more, and even in its favourite
localities it is getting scarce." And Mr. W. Prentis, in
his Birds of Bainham, states that the " Eedstart once
was common in our orchards, coming the second and
third week in April, and it breeds in the old boundary
stumps." In the Bulletin of the B.O.C., 1906, Mr.
W. B. Ogilvie-Grant, on the " Immigrations in the
Spring of 1905," tells us that " Three distinct immigra-
tions may be noted, of the Eedstart, the first and most
important of which took place between April 9 and 12,
along the south coast, from Dorset to Kent. These
birds moved on rapidly to the north and north-west, so
that by the 15th there were but few left in the south.
On April 21 the second arrivals. On April 27 and 28
the third movement, which extended from Hampshire
to Kent, was reported from the lighthouses."

BLACK EEDSTAET.

Buticilla titijs (Scopoli). Ann. I. Hist.-nat.,
p. 157 (1769;.

Although the Black Eedstart was at one time looked
upon as one of our rarest visitors, it appears to be more
plentiful of late years than formerl3\ The particulars

36 THE BIRDS OF KENT

which we have been able to obtain proves that the
species is an irregular visitor to the county of Kent.

In his OniitJioIogij of Kent (Zoologist, 1844), the Eev.
J. Pemberton Bartlett says it is " very rare." The only
notice we find in Newton's Yarrell (1871-74) of this bird
is — " to the eastward it is less common, but it has occurred
many times in Sussex, and more or less often in Kent,
Suffolk and Norfolk."

In the Zoologist, 1883, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond states
that " on May 9, having been fishing in some preserved
water in this neighbourhood (Wingham), I saw a Black
Eedstart. I was in a waggonette at the time on my w^ay
home, and my keeper w^as with me and saw the bird as
well very clearly. The bird was an old male, as I inferred
from the plumage being perfect. It was close to the
road and very near to me when I first observed it ; and
after settling twice on the ground, just before my
waggonette, it flew into a large group of ash and syca-
more, and settled against the trunk of a tree near the
ground, running up the bark for a few feet in a diagonal
position, apparently with ease. It then flew off the
trunk into the foliage, and I lost sight of it.

" The bird that I saw on May 9, has appeared there-
fore at an exceptional season ; and since France and
Belgium are mentioned as its breeding places there
seems to be no reason why it should not breed here, and
possibly there may be a pair in the locality where I saw
the male." There are specimens in the Canterbury
Museum from Dover, and others in the Dover Museum
in the collection formed by Dr. F. Plomley.

In the Birds of East Kent, Mr. G. Dowker says
the " Black Eedstart is rare, but more frequent than
formerly ; this is not merely my opinion, but is shared in

J. Smii del. et liti.

le &Daiaelssoii,L*:^ xnap

WHITE - SPOTTED BLUE - THROAT
CYANECULA WOLFI fBrehm.)

WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT 37

by that accurate observer, Mr. W. O. Hammond." The
Blackstart, or Black Kedstart, so named by the "Rev.
C. H. Fielding, is included in his Birds of the Mailing
Valley.

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Rainham, says : " On
October 1, 1865, I observed a Black Redstart with white
on its wings fly along a wire fence. An immature bird
was caught by a bird-catcher in one of the brickfields,
November, 1887."

Mr. S. A. Davies, in his Ornithological Notes from East
Kent, states that on October 4, 1895, " I visited Mr.
Stm-gess, the Margate taxidermist, who showed me
several Black Redstarts from the district,"

Genus CYANECULA, C. L. Brehm.
WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT.

Cijanecula ivolfi, Brehm. Beitrdge zur Vogelkunde,
ii., p. 173 (1822).

Naturalists are indebted to Mr. M. J. Nicoll for the
discovery of the first specimen of the White-Spotted
Bluethroat in Kent.

We quote the following from the Zoologist, 1902 :
" At a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club held
on October 22, I had the pleasure of exhibiting the first
authentic British-killed White-Spotted Bluethroat {Cijane-
cula wolfi). This example, a fine adult male, was picked
up dead close to the lighthouse at Dungeness, Kent,
by a man named Gasson, on October 6 of this year,
and sent by him to Mr. Bristow on October 8, who at
that date brought it up to me for examination in the

38 THE BIRDS OF KENT

flesh. My best thanks are due to Mr. Bristow for bring-
ing it to me, and for lending it to me for exhibition." —
M. J. :Nicoll. In So77ie Notes of Bare Birds from Kent
and Sussex, by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst (Zoologist, 1903),
we find the following : " October 6, 1902, a fine adult
male of the AVhite-Spotted Bluethroat {Cijanccida icolfi),
picked up dead under the lighthouse at Dungeness. It
was exhibited by Mr. M. J. Nicoll at the British Ornith-
ologists' Club on October 22, and is probably the first
authentic occurrence of this race of Bluethroat in this
country."

EED-SPOTTED BLUETHEOAT.

Cyanecula suecica (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 336
(1766).

The Eed-spotted Bluethroat appears to be equally as
rare in Kent as the White-spotted Bluethroat. From
all the data which we have obtained, only five examples
have been procured, and of one observed in Kent we
give the following notes : Mr. Morris states that " one
was shot at Margate in September, 1842, and gives the
name of Mr. Edward Cole as the authority."

From Professor Newton's Yarrell we subjoin his note :
" In September, 1844, two specimens, one old bird, the
other a young bird of the year, and both these unskinned,
were sent for my inspection by Mr. Gardner. These
were said to have been shot in the Isle of Sheppy."

The above specimens are included in Mr. J. E. Hart-
ing's Handbook, 1872 ; in Mr. H. Seebohm's British
Birds, 1884; in Mr. G. Dowker's Birds of East Kent,
1899 ; and in the Eev. C. H. Fielding's Mailing and its
Valley, 1893.

EED-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT 39

The capture of the Bhie-throated Warbler in Kent is
given by Mr. James Green in the Zoologist, 1853 : " A
fine old male bird was talcen in a nightingale trap, on
May 16, 1815, in the county of Kent. I had it alive for
several months, and both Mr. Hewitson and Mr. John
Hancock, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, saw it while alive.
The latter gentleman now has it in his collection." This
specimen is omitted from both Harting's Handhooh and
Yarrell's British Birds.

In the Zoologist, 1881, Mr. W. Davies, of Dartford,
states that " on September 4 (1881) I shot a specimen
of the Bhie-throated Warbler in the marshes near
Dartford. I take it to be the Scandinavian form, as it
has a decided rufous spot above the blue breast, the same
colour as below the blue band." This is the specimen
mentioned in the Field, 1881, and also in the Rev. C. H.
Fielding's Mailing and its Valley, 1893.

Mr. G. F. Mathew gives an account in the Zoologist,
1890, of the Blue-throated Warbler, observed by himself
at Sheerness : " On September 17 I had the pleasure of
seeing one of these pretty little birds as it was hopping
about among some masses of Atriplex and Chenopodiitm
growing at the foot of the sea-bank beyond Marine Town,
Sheerness. It was quite tame and allowed me to look
at it for a considerable time as it ran in and out among
the plants, occasionally snapping at some insect, or flit-
ting off to a stone on the adjacent shingly beach, where
it sat and watched for a few minutes and then returned
to the Atriplex, and went on with its search for flies, &c.
It appeared to be a young bird in moult, for I could only
see a few blue feathers on its throat, and there was no
trace of a white or reddish spot."

40 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus ERITHACUS, Cuvier.
KEDBEEAST.

Eritliacus ruhecula (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 337

(1766).

Kobin.

Our delightful and garden-loving little Eobin, or Eed-
breast, is the pet of all our resident birds ; there is scarcely
an adult, or a child, who does not recognise and admire
our small favourite, in summer or winter, more especially
in the latter, when his breast appears redder than ever,
and he becomes so sociable and tame that he will enter
our rooms for warmth and food and enjoy the shelter of
the home.

The Eobin is not only attached to the gardens and
houses, but you may find him spread all over the country,
along the hedgerows of lanes, where there are ditches ;
in the woods and fields. In any of these places during"
the non-breeding season he may be seen sitting on a
branch of a tree, or a post, pouring forth his delightful
song, which may be heard from autumn till early summer.

Although the Eobin is plentiful throughout the county,
for we have found him in ever}' district traversed, yet
each male holds a particular area to himself and wife,
and we have noted him at his regular station from
autumn until autumn, and there is no doubt he breeds in
that particular area, and the young have to find " fields
and pastures new," nor will a Eobin allow another male
on his estate.

It was not until January 24 that the Eobins began to
collect in pairs, although the number of males had never

EEDBREAST 41

apparently diminished throughout the winter, but were
solitary. The female must remain about the vicinity,
but is not noticeable, always keeping closer in the hedges,
and allowing her lord and master to keep the coast clear
of intruders.

From the early part of March the Kobin's song becomes
much purer and louder than during November, December,
January and February.

The food of the Eobin is a very varied mixture, from
meat, bread and cheese, worms, insects and fruit. Mr.
E. Bartlett tells us that one severe winter while at
IMaidstone, he saw a Eobin on the garden path in the
snow, with what he thought at first was a small twig
about 4 inches long sticking out of the bird's mouth.
Thinkmg the bird would injure itself he was going out,
but seeing the bird strike the supposed stick on the
ground, he knew directly that it was a frozen worm. He
watched until the Robin had beaten the worm soft
enough to swallow it, there the poor thing stood bolt
upright for some time, then hopping under a currant bush
until it had fully devoured that horrid frozen worm.

The Eedbreast is included among the Birch of Sand-
luich, 1792, by Boys, and the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
in his Or)iitJioIogij of Kent, 1844, says it is "abundant.''
Mr. C. Collingvvood, writing in 1854, states that " among
the indigenous birds of Blackheath the Robin commenced
singing on January 1, and sang bravely through all the
winter frost and snow ; and recommenced singing on
August 5, 1854. I am much inclined to believe that, at
least in the majority of instances, the birds which tirst
begin by favouring us with their long-lost voices in the
autumn are the young birds of the year ; in some cases
I am sure of it, from having seen the young birds them-

42 THE BIRDS OF KENT

selves utter the note to which my attention has been
directed owing to its having been so long silent. I do not
assert that they alone sing in the latter part of the season,
but I believe they are generally the first to break the
autumnal silence. The Eedbreast is by far the most
indefatigable vocalist ; throughout the whole year he was
silent only from July 17 to August 6, and then the quiet
was profound ; for weeks together his was the only voice
heard, and nothing seems to impair his powers ; so inces-
sant is his music that the small rccorduig voices of his
progeny are unheard."

Mr. A. G. Butler while bird's-nesting in Kent, found
at Murston, May 26, one egg pure white, the reddish
dots being few.

In Mr. H. Lamb's notes, 1876, he writes : " I have heard
of a Kobin which built its nest on a shelf in a shoemaker's
work room and brought up its young. The shoemaker
would sometimes throw pieces of tallow down on the floor
and the bird would fly down, pick them up, and take
them to the nest." The Kobin is added to the Birds of
Higham by the Kev. C. H. Fielding. In the spring
of 1883, Mr. A. G. Butler describes the variation of nests
of this bird : "I took a large nest of a Eobin, over
5 inches in diameter, from ivy upon the front of a house.
This nest is strongly built of fine roots, bass, coarse
hair, a few withered grasses, and a little moss, firmly
interw^oven ; the back wall of the nest is about 2 inches
in thickness, gradually diminishing towards the front,
which is covered with dead oak-leaves, giving it the
appearance of a Nightingale's nest ; it contains six eggs,
almost uniform in tint, the large end of a pale russet tint,
growing gradually paler towards the smaller end ; no
distinct mottling is visible, but two or three isolated dark

REDBREAST 43

brown points can be seen with a lens on some of the eggs.
This nest forms a marked contrast to one which I took
two or three years ago out of a hole in an apple-tree ;
the latter is semicircular in form, and is composed of
moss and fine root-fibre, lined with hair, fibre and two or
three small pieces of withered grass."

Writing from Thanet, Mr. H. S. D. Byron says : " On
May 22, 1888, I found a Kobin's nest from which the
young had flown ; it, however, contained an egg, evi-
dently bad from its discoloured appearance. As this egg
was of most unusual size I cut it open and found it con-
tained two dead young birds, each perfectly formed and
almost ready to have burst the shell. The shell was
rather large in the middle, tapering off to each end, and
the birds were placed with their heads towards the points,
the small portion of unconsumed j^olk being between
them in the middle of the egg. The colouring of the
shell, however, was collected chiefly at one end, as is
generally the case with Eobin's."

A-bout Orlestone Mr. R. T. Filmer says it is " common."
Mr. G. Dowker says it is " common in the district of
Stourmouth." Nonington, AV. Oxenden Hammond ;
Dover, C. Gordon ; Elmstone, Eev. W. B. Delmar ;
Walmer, Eev. B. Austen ; Dover, G. Gray ; Folkestone,
H. Ullyett ; and Plomley Collection, Dover. "Resident
all the year," Rev. C. H. Fielding, Mailing and its
Valley. " The familiar Robin makes itself at home
everywhere," Mr. AV. Prentis, Birds of Rainliam.
Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron. " A Robin's nest
with five eggs was found at Elmstead in Kent, February
5, 1906."

Note on Mis-coloured Eggs. — "Those who collect the
eggs of birds well know how different the colour and

44 THE BIRDS OF KENT

markings are in different specimens of the same bird.
During the summer I found a nest in some ivy con-
taining same milk-white eggs ; on revisiting it I found it
to be a Kobin's, as the old bird was sitting. I saw the
young birds also after they were hatched. In a house-
sparrow's nest, among three eggs marked as usual I
found one with the spots of a light red colour, in every
other respect it resembled the rest." — J. F. Streatfield,
Chart's Edge, near Westerham {Zoologist, 184G, p. 1393).

Genus DAULIAS, F. Bole.

GREATEE NIGHTINGALE.

Daulias pliilomela (Bechstein). Ornith. Tascli.
Vug. DeutscJi. (180-2-3).

In the last two lines of his article on the Nightingale,
in the fourth edition of Yarrell's British Birds, Professor
Newton has expressed his opinion that " there is no
sufficient reason for supposing that the larger Nightin-
gale of Eastern Europe has ever visited this country."

The only record, which is certainly very slight, of the
Greater Nightingale having visited Kent, is published in
the Zoologist, 1896 (pp. 192-3), and added to this work on
its own merits : —

Greater Niglitingale in Kent. — AVriting from Frin-
sted, Kent, on May 5, 1896, Mr. Gervesse F. Mathew
says : " I saw a couple of queer warblers yesterday, and,
while they are fresh in my memory, will describe them.
They were considerably larger than Nightingales, stoutly
and robustly built, of a smoky olive-grey colour, under
parts lighter ; tail short and square ; beak strong,

GREATER NIGHTINGALE 45

shining brown or black ; large black eyes. They were
evidently a pair, and where chasing each other about ;
they came quite close to me, and I had them in view
several minutes. Their note also was quite strange to me.
AVhat could they have been ? I have never seen anything
like them before. They were in a small coppice by the
side of the road between this and Sittingbourne."

On this communication the Rev. M. A. Mathew
observes : "I enclose a note from my brother. The
strange warblers are, without any doubt, Daulias philo-
viela, the Northern Nightingale, of which, as yet, there
is no record in this country that I know of. My
brother's description of the birds tallies closely with
that given by Mr. Dresser in Birds of Europe.''

Since the above was written the following particulars
of the occurrence of this species in Kent was given by
Mr. M. J. Nicoll in the BuUetin of the B.O.C. (vol. xv.,
p. 20, 1904-5) :—

" A male of the ' Sprosser ' Nightingale (Daulias philo-
mela). This specimen, the first authentic British- killed
example of the species, was obtained at Smeeth, in Kent,
on October 22, 1904. It was forwarded for preservation
to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonard's, who kindly brought
me the bird in the flesh for examination, and subse-
quently sent it to me for exhibition."

NIGHTINGALE.

Daulias luscinia (Linnseus). ^S'.IV., i., p. 328
(1766).

The Nightingale is one of our most attractive summer
visitors, and all rejoice to hear its welcome voice in early
spring, joining in, as it does, with the revival of all
animated Nature.

46 THE BIRDS OF KENT

This species appears as abundant as in former days,
and the regularity in the time of arrival and departure
is only affected by the conditions of the weather. They
have a better chance of increasing in numbers by their
habit of remaining within the preserves and on private
property.

Soon after the arrival of the Nightingales they rapidly
beconje distributed all over the county, and in some
places they are more abundant than others ; this may be
attributed to the greater supply of food and the best
situations for breeding.

In 1792 Boys added the Nightingale to the Birds of
Sandwich. The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his
Ornithology of Kent, 1844, says it is "abundant."
Among the arrivals at Shooter's Hill, Kent, Mr. M.
Hutchinson gives the following notes: "April 16, 1844.
The glorious Nightingales revisited their fatherland the
same night of April 15, but I did not hear them till the
18th, when I purposely betook myself to their shady
haunts. Early on Sunday morning", April 13, 1845, as
I sat in the wood musing on the sins and sorrows of the
city, compared with the innocent Arcadian revelling in
the luxuries of the ' incense-breathing morn/ 7s. a week,
a wife and ten fine children, a Nightingale darted close
by me into a furze thicket. There goes his red tail, and
now he returns thanks for bis safe arrival home, in what
the bird fanciers technically term ' the sweet jug-and-
water bubble.' Later in the day a shepherd boy heard
another Nightingale on the opposite side of the wood.
On April 27 the Nightingale trappers were out in the
woods in full force with their wives and children. I soon
heard the call of a Nightingale, saw him drop, down went
the trap, rush like madmen went the trappers to find

NIGHTINGALE 47

who had caught the poor victim, for which there were
laid down no less than seven traps. Half-a-crown bought
the bird. On discovering that his leg had been broken
by the descent of the wire I gave him his liberty two
miles from where he was taken. The following Satur-
day, May 3, observing a pair of Nightingales feeding in
the grass skirting the woods, and that one had a very
singular gait, I looked through the telescope, and imme-
diately discovered my poor broken-legged Nightingale
limping about in rare good spirits ; supporting himself
with one wing he managed to hobble along the grass
famously. I was overjoyed at again seeing him in his
old quarters, so happy under his affliction ; and many
and many a time, through the spring, have I leaned
against a tree and listened with delight to the glorious
melody of my broken-legged Nightingale. I considered
I had laid out my money well. The Nightingale was
heard on April 8, 1846, by residents on Shooter's Hill,
and by a woodman on April 9, 1846. On April 11 I saw
a hen Blackcap, and at last met with the Nightingale
crossing the path in the Castle woods. I soon heard
his croak, and then mounting a tree, he poured forth his
unrivalled melody. Eight or wrong, I took him to be
my broken-legged Nightingale. He occupied the same
quarters and sang in the same tree. Numbers of traps
were again laid for him, but he, gaining wisdom from
experience, had learned to withstand the temptation of
meal-worms, and escaped them all. As soon as his wife
arrived I caught her and let her fly, so that often through
the spring I had the pleasure of hearing the luscious
notes of her mate. I was told a Nightingale had been
heard, and another had been caught, on April 5, 1846.
The Nightingale was heard in Shooter's Hill wood on

48 THE BIRDS OF KENT

April 11, 1861, and again on April 2G, 1861. May 2, 1861,
I saw a Nightingale and a Robin feeding together, and
plucky little Eobin kept pecking and driving the aristo-
cratic Nightingale away. On April 23, 1866, I saw
the Nightingale on the south-west face of Shooter's
Hill, Kent." Mr. C. CollingW'Ood notes the earliest
arrival "on April 16, 1854, Love Lane, Lee, and Abbey
Wood."

In the Zoologist, 1857, Captain H. W. Hadfield
describes his experience and observations on the Night-
ingale in the Tunbridge district, as follows : —

"April 20, 1857 (thermometer 65°).— At 6 o'clock p.m.
I revisited the spot where a Nightingale was first heard
on the 11th instant. After vainly waiting for some half
hour*or more, I was returning home disappointed, when
.the clear but distant notes of one could be plainly distin-
guished above that of every other songster. We (for I w^as
accompanied by one of my sons) immediately hastened
to the spot. To leave the high road, cross a ploughed
field, and clear a hedge, seemed, in our state of excite-
ment, but a momentary affair. As we drew near, not
one only, but several of these sweet warblers were pour-
ing forth their melodious notes at the same moment,
apparently vying with each other in eager but peaceful
rivahy. We now found ourselves in a lane, bordered on
either side by hawthorn hedges, which, like most others
in the neighbourhood, had been allowed to grow up in a
natural and luxuriant manner ; to our left and adjoining
the road there was a small plantation, chiefly of oak, but
the ground at the foot of the trees was completely covered
with tangled bushes and briars; an old, unused cart-road
running through the midst of it, on the entrance-gate
to which we sat ourselves quietly down to listen to and

NIGHTINGALE 49

enjoy this unexpected serenade. I never before, that I
am aware of, heard more than one or two at a time, but
now there were three or four singing at once, and so
powerfully that the thrilling sensation caused by it is
more easily imagined than described. And what met
our eyes was equally astonishing, for we had barely time
to take up our post of inspection when my son directed
my attention, although it was not needed, to two of
these most elegant birds (for the Nightingale, though so
modestly attired, is inferior to none in lightness and
beauty of form) in pursuit of each other, and so regard-
less were they of our presence that they frequently, in
their winding, passed so close that I could clearly distin-
guish the colour of the plumage, particularly the reddish-
brown feathers of the tail, which was momentarily
expanded before alighting on the bushes, which they
occasionally did, within 4 or 5 yards of us, when they
would at once commence their song, which was generally
taken up, or immediately followed, by others that were
continually sporting about, occasionally alighting on the
ground, and one I saw, but for an instant only, pitch on
the public road ; they also frequently flew into the leafless
oak-trees, where they remained for a minute or so, singing
as if they would crack their throats, which were greatly
distended. During the continuance of the song I ob-
served that the body was kept in a horizontal position, the
head being brought down to a level with the tail, which
was, however, frequently flirted up and down at its
conclusion, when they would spring up or hop round,
reversing their position on the branch. There was, I am
inclined to believe, but one female among them, for I
saw but one pair chasing about, the rest flying singly ;
and, as they frequently passed over the open space left
4

50 THE BIRDS OF KENT

for the road already referred to, I could not have failed
to have noticed it had there been more than one pair ;
besides, when the two birds entered a bush together the
notes of one only was heard to proceed from it. This
charming spot, although so retired, is not more than a
hundred yards from the raik-oad ; but I observed that
the passing train only caused a momentary cessation of
their song, and the shouting and screaming of some
children on the road did not even appear to be noticed.
Their flight is very buoyant, and they thread their way
through the hedgerows and bushes with surprising
facility, in a somewhat similar manner to that of the
Hedge-Sparrow, but then the wings are more expanded.
There is a small lake close to the wood, but so completely
shut in and fringed by the underwood, as well as over-
shadowed by the surrounding trees, that it would prob-
ably be unobserved by any less prying eyes than those
of an ornithologist or botanist ; in fact, it is a spot that
seems to combine everything that can make it desirable
as a breeding place, so, if undisturbed, they would doubt-
less remain in what is probably an old and favourite
haunt."

Writing in the Zoologist, 1866, on the Birds Observed
at Bainliam in 1865, Mr. W. H. Power says: "I can
remember the time when this ' sweet songster ' was a
common bird enough, and almost every hedge and garden
had its pair of Nightingales ; but of late years, I am
sorry to say, they have become gradually scarcer and
scarcer. This spring I only heard two, and those only
for a few days on their first arrival ; they departed again
before attaining their full song, which I have always
found they take some days to perfect themselves in.
This unhappy decrease in numbers is caused, according

NIGHTINGALE 51

to the villagers, by the numbers of brickfields that have
of late years been established in the neighbourhood.
Their theory is that the Nightingale objects to the smell
of burning bricks. How far this may be true I leave
others to judge ; but the fact of their scarcity is, unfor-
tunately, undeniable." Mr. H. Lamb remarks that the
Nightingale is a " common bird near Maidstone. On
July 2, 1891, and again on the 8th, I heard the Nightin-
gale singing on the wooded banks of the Medway, above
Maidstone." It is included in the summer visitors to the
Mailing Valley and Higham by the Eev. C. H. Fielding.
It is common in the Stourmouth district, according to
Mr. G. Dowker ; and at Nonington, W. Oxenden Ham-
mond ; Dover, G. Gray ; Elmstone, Eev. W. B. Delmar ;
Walmer, Eev. A. Austen ; Dover, C. Gordon ; Folkestone,
H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plomley Collection.

Mr. E. J. Balston notes : "On April 16, 1902, I
heard a Nightingale singing at 9.30 p.m., and one
singing on June 9 about 10 p.m. ; it struck me that its
notes were much softer and sweeter than when it first
arrived, and there was no ' jug -jug -jug.' I have heard the
Nightingale singing every hour of the twenty-four."

Among the spring arrivals near Canterbury, Mr. D. F.
Warde, on April 15, 1906, says: "While walking in a
small wood with two friends I heard and saw a Nightin-
gale, but as I had only just come from town I cannot
state if it was heard earlier."

The Nightingale was evidently kept back by the cold
weather throughout the spring of 1906, and it was not
until April 16 that the bird was heard near Maidstone,
and on April 23 at Bilsington Woods ; after these dates
they became general and in every direction. Bethersden,
by Captain J. D. Cameron ; plentiful about Orlestone,
Mr. E. T. Filmer.

52 THE BIRDS OP KENT

Mr. W. Prentis says : " What would a country life be
worth in the south of England without the far-famed
Nightingale ? "

In the Record of Summer Arrivals for 1905, pub-
lished by the British Ornithological Club — April 13, 1905,
Kentish Knock ; and May G, 1905, Kent is mentioned.

Mr. A. G. Butler obtained the nest at Murston, in May,
1875. He remarks : "I have not seen the nest of this
bird for three years, yet I know it to be common in all
the woods between Heme Bay and Maidstone, and
probably all over Kent ; I have often heard as many as
five birds singing at a time. The Nightingale was very
common during the present year (1883), but I only twice
stumbled across the nests ; in both cases they were
normal in structure and position, but last year I found
the nest built fully 18 inches from the ground in a matted
bush of furze and brambles, near Sittingbourne, Kent.
About eight years ago I saw a nest without eggs in a
stunted hawthorn, nearly 2 feet from the ground, in
Heme Wood, near the village of Herne, Kent."

Blue Eggs of the Nightingale. — " On May 22, after
half an hour's careful stalking and searching, I was
fortunate enough to find in a wood near Willesborough,
about 1^ miles from Ashford, a Nightingale's nest con-
taining five eggs, which were of a beautiful greenish-blue,
the same colour as those of the Whinchat, and minutely
spotted and speckled in a zone at the larger end, in the
same manner as those of the bird just named. On the
29th my brother discovered a second clutch of four eggs
of the same bird, within 30 feet of the first nest, the eggs
being of the same colour and marking. I find that Mr.
Miller Christy mentions this variety in his BircVs-nesting
and Bird-sMnning, but I believe they are anything

WHITETHROAT 53

but common, for although I have found numbers of
Nightingale's eggs, this is the first instance in which I
have obtained the blue variety." — P. F. Bunyard, Ash-
ford, Kent {Zoologist, 1891, p. 427).

Genus SYLVIA, Scopoli.

WHITETHROAT.

Sylvia sijlvia (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 330 (176G).
Meggie, Peggy, and Jolly Whitethroat.

The Whitethroat is generally distributed over the whole
of Kent, but it prefers the large inland heaths, commons,
and thickly overgrown copses and small woods, especially
those places which are well covered with furze and tangled
masses of brambles. In such situations the AVhitethroat
may be seen in all his liveliness and activity, darting from
time to time up into the air, chattering, and flittering
back to the same place.

The first that was seen at Euckinge was on May 13,
1906. It was feeding on the aphides on the undersides of
the leaves of a small sycamore close to the window, very
early in the morning. On the 25th the first nest was
found, containing five eggs ; it was a very light structure,
placed in a small low bush. The second nest was found
on May 29, and contained five eggs ; this was about a
foot from the ground, placed in a very pretty position,
in among brambles, primroses, bluebells, tall grasses.

Mr. M. Hutchinson records in the Zoologist the follow-
ing data of the Whitethroat : " On April 19, 1844, I dis-
covered the fidgety, saucy, chattering Whitethroat on
Shooter's Hill. It was not long before up he flew, making

54 THE BIRDS OF KENT

in his short flight what that close observer and accurate
describe!-, White of Selborne, quaintly terras ' those odd
jerks and gesticulations ' which so clearly distinguish the
Whitethroat from all his congeners. When this bird
ceases its chatter — which is but seldom — and really sings,
its song is very pleasing. A joyous trio I heard in the
Castle wood, by a Nightingale, a Blackcap and a White-
throat, far surpassing all the squalling of the opera. At
Shooter's Hill, on April 23, 1845, exactly on the same
spot as last year, I this morning discovered the two
Whitethroats. In the same locality on April 19 and 26,
1861, I found the Whitethroats had arrived. On April
30 the Whitethroats alone are plentiful ; I find them
creeping about the nettles at the bottom of a warm, thick
thorn hedge, picking up the small black ground-spiders
and the red ants."

Among the arrivals at Annerly, Mr. C. Colhngwood
gives the " Whitethroat as April 14, 1854."

On April 18, 1902, one was heard in Barrow Wood,
Kent, and another obtained on April 25.

Mr. A. G. Butler, while bird's-nesting in Kent in 1875,
obtained a nest on May 24 — the eggs were sap-green,
mottled — at Kodmersham.

Boys includes the AVhitethroat in the Birds of Sand-
wich, 1792. The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844,
says it is " common in Kent." Morris, in his His-
tory of British Birds, says it is " to be seen in every
county of England from Kent to Cornwall." " It is
common in the Maidstone district," according to Mr.
H. Lamb ; and common about Orlestone, Mr. E. T.
Filmer ; Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron; Stour-
mouth, G. Dowker ; Nonington, W. 0. Hammond ; Dover,
C. Gordon; Elmstone, Kev. W. B. Delmar ; Dover, G.

LESSER WHITETHROAT 55

Gray ; Walmer, Be v. B. Austen ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ;
Dover, Plomley Collection. "It is a summer visitor"
to the Mailing valley, Bev. C. H. Fielding, and the
Higham district, Bev. C. H. Fielding. Mr. W. Prentis,
in his Birds of Rainham, says that it "is provincially
called Jolly Whitethroat."

In the Bulletin of the B.O.C. for 1906, the arrival of
the Whitethroat in Kent is April 11 and 12, 1905.

LESSER WHITETHROAT.

Sylvia curvuca (LinntTUs). aS'.-ZV., i., p. 329 (1766).
Meggie Whitethroat.

The Lesser Whitethroat is certainly far less abundant
in Kent than its larger ally, the Whitethroat. Very few
appear to remain to breed around the coast-line, and they
no doubt go far inland to the river valleys, and places
sheltered from the north-east winds.

With regard to the dates of arrivals the following notes
have been brought together : The Bev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett, writing in 1844, says it is " not uncommon.
Both the Whitethroats arrive about the first or second
week in April, and usually depart about the end of
August." Mr. M. Hutchinson, writing from Shooter's
Hill, Kent, states that "on the morning of April 17,
1844, I fell in with the Lesser Whitethroat, and narrowly
watched it with my glass for half an hour, as it kept
creeping through the intricacies of a thick thorn hedge.
It is a neat, modestly attired bird, and is the clearest,
most liquid whistler we have. On April 23, 1845, I first
saw the Lesser Whitethroat. At the same spot as last

66 THE BIRDS OF KENT

year, on April 12, 1846, I heard and saw the birds. On
Monday, the 13th, I met with Meggy Whitethroat at
the old place. There he was, with his dark smoky head
and bright throat, magging as incessantly as ever. I had
not watched him long before np he went, jigging his long
tail and singing most happily."

Mr. C. Collingwood states that the Lesser Whitethroat
was first noticed among the arrivals at Blackheath on
May 5, 1854. The first observed among the arrivals in
the Bilsington district was on April 23, 1902. Among
the arrivals recorded in the Bulletin of the B.O.C., the
Lesser Whitethroat came on May 1, 1905, Kentish Knock.

In the Birds of Bainham, Mr. W. Prentis says it is
" not very numerous as a species." In the Stourmouth
district it is " moderately common," G. Dowker. Bethers-
den, Captain J. D. Cameron ; Nonington, W. 0. Ham-
mond ; Dover, C. Gordon ; Elmstone, Rev. W. B.
Delmar ; Walmer, Rev. B. Austen ; Dover, G. Gray ;
Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plomley Collection ;
Maidstone, H. Lamb.

There are nests and eggs in the Maidstone Museum,
obtained at Boxley, Mailing, and Linton ; this latter nest
and five eggs were obtained in May, 1894, by Mr. H. J.
Colyer; it was built in a gooseberry bush.

ORPHEAN WARBLER.

Sylvia oj-j^Jiea, Temminck. Man. cVOrn., p. 107

(1815).

On the authority of Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of
East Kent, this bird is included in this series. He says,
"It is a very rare accidental visitor, and the only

BLACKCAP 57

specimen is in the Dover Museum, procured by Mr.
C. Gordon."

BLACKCAP.

Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 332 (1766).

After the Nightingale, there is no doubt that the Black-
cap calls forth much pleasurable attention from his
charming song. As soon as he has taken up a position,
after his arrival, there you may find him sitting in a tree,
singing his best, filling the woods with joyful music, and
there he remains until his "ladye love" makes her
appearance. The Blackcap appears to hold his own, at
present, throughout the beautiful woodlands of Kent,
and the numbers do not visibly diminish, in fact, they
apparently increase, or one pays more attention to their
song than before.

The habits of this bird resemble somewhat those of
the Nightingale ; it prefers the outskirts of low woods
and thickets, with a few trees mingled with it, as a kind
of watch tower, from which it is to be seen continually
darting up and down during the breeding season.

Boys adds the Blackcap to his Birds of Sand-
wich, 1792. The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett in 1844,
in his Ornithology of Kent, says the " Blackcaps arrive
here about the middle of April, and are rarely to be seen
after September, although an instance is recorded of
a Blackcap being shot in Kent as late as January. It
is frequently called the ' Kentish Nightingale,' which
epithet it deserves, for its notes are wildly melodious."

Among the arrivals of summer birds at Shooter's Hill,
in Kent, in 1844, Mr. M. Hutchinson gives the following
notes of this bird : "On the morning of April 9, 1844,

58 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the merry Blackcap announced his arrival. His light-
hearted welcome greeted me as I mounted for my morn-
ing's ride. Perched on the highest twig of a lofty lime,
he sang away cheerily and lustily, that his loving mate
might not miss him on her passage. Several successive
mornings I saw him singing from the top of the same
tree. It is delightful to listen to his varied, happy song ;
he deservedly ranks among our best singers. I was
greatly disappointed at not meeting with the Blackcap
from April 6 to 9 (1845). I beat up his usual quarters
every morning, without finding him, till April 23, when,
instead of exhibiting on the tops of the trees the restless
anxiety and excitement of a first arrival, anxiously look-
ing out, and incessantly singing for a partner, he was
composedly enjoying in the depth of the underwood the
soothing society of his red-headed wife. I concluded the
late opening of the buds had delayed his journey, and he
had picked up his mate while travelling through France.
Shooter's Hill, 184G : I had for days regularly beat up the
haunts of the Blackcap, and felt some disappointment at
not meeting with him, when on March 28, while pruning
a rose-tree at midday, I heard the well-known notes of
that merry bird. I darted off for my glass, and soon saw
our Blackcap, in blooming condition, singing away in the
highest spirits. I was delighted beyond measure to hear
our welcome friend once more. This morning, April 1,
1846, 1 heard several Blackcaps in full song. On April 11
I saw a hen Blackcap."

It was not until April 11, 1854, that Mr. C. Collingwood
noted the arrival of the Blackcap at " Plumstead Com-
mon." The dates of arrival of the Blackcap in Kent
given in the Bulletin of the B.O.C. are : " Kent, March
27, 1905; April 9, 1905; April 10, 1905." The first

BLACKCAP 59

seen in the woods at Euckinge was on May 5, 1906,
and the first nest was not found until June 8, 1906, in
the Orlestone district.

In the Birds of Bainham Mr. W. Prentis says : " The
merry Blackcap comes in spring, rather earlier than the
Nightingale." It is also mentioned from the following
localities : Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron ; " A sum-
mer visitor to the Mailing valley," Eev. C. H. Fielding
"In the Stourmouth district it is common," G. Dowker
Nonington, W. O. Hammond ; Dover, C. Gordon
Elmstone, Eev. W. B. Delmar ; AVahner, Eev. B. Austen
Dover, G. Gray ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Plomley
Collection. Mr. H. Lamb found it breeding in the
Farleigh Wood, on the Med way, in 1875. The Blackcap
is evenly distributed over the Orlestone district according
to Mr. E. T. Filmer, with a decided liking for the rough
railway banks on the Ashford side of Ham Street Station.

Mr. A. G. Butler, in his BlnVs-)iesting in Kent,
records the Blackcap's nest on the following dates :
" Murston, May 24 ; Borden, May 25 ; Banning, June 7
and 8." " The eggs vary in tint considerably more than
those of the Garden Warbler [so he states in his British
Birds' Eggs]. The red is of one clutch which I took at
Tunstall, in Kent, on May 24, 1877, and on the 29th of
the same month, in 1878, I took a second clutch of five
eggs, slightly larger but similarly coloured, within a
hundred yards of the place where the first was obtained ;
if these were laid by the same bird, as seems likely, it
would tend to show that the red colouring was confined
to individuals of the species."

The following notes are given respecting the song of
the Blackcap : Mr. C. CoUingwood states that the " bird
recommenced singing on August 30, 1854 " ; Mr. F. D.

60 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Power, writing in 1868, says: "One remained about the
garden at Rainham, in Kent, till September 16, singing
occasionally, but feebly, up to the last."

On the authority of Mr. Morris, in his History of British
Birds, under the heading " Blackcap," one has been killed
in Kent in January.

On January 14, 1907, Mr. H. Elgar, of the Maidstone
Museum, writes : " I thought you would like to know of
the occurrence in Maidstone of a Blackcap. For some
days past I had noticed a strange bird in the garden
where I hve (Upper Fant Road), and yesterday afternoon
it came near enough for me to see it was a female Black-
cap. It was feeding close to the back door with the
following birds : Blackbird, Thrush, Hedge-Sparrow,
Chafhnch, House-Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Starling. I saw it again this
morning at breakfast-time."

Note upon the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). — " It
seems to be an undecided question amongst naturalists
whether this pretty little warbler does or does not remain
with us during the winter months. There is considerable
reasonableness apparently to be said on either side, pro
and con ; at the same time I do think, when one reflects
upon the nature of the bird under discussion, its usual
food, &c., that to any observant and clear-sighted judge
the evidence must appear stronger in favour of the latter
than the former, i.e., rather against its wintering here,
either as a regular, ascertained fact, or as a very common
occurrence. As a motive for my thinking thus, I would
state an experience which caused me to come to this
conclusion in respect to Sylvia atricapilla's residing in
our leafless bowers during the coldest portion of the
year. Living in a retired and beautiful village not far

BLACKCAP 61

from Dover, some three or four winters since a Blackcap
was brought me by some boys, in the month of December
(if my memory serves me), which had been what they
termed ' run down ' (a cruel and barbarous amusement
much practised by lads in this part of England, and not,
I fear, an obsolete custom in other countries). Snow
was on the ground ; the weather quite in accordance
with the season ; and most of the feathered tribe, tamed
by lack of food and coldness of the atmosphere, sought
rather the haunts of men than the wide, open woodlands
of Nature, their delight in the joyous days of June. Our
little friend, wrested from the grasp of unfeeling creatures
as well as natural privations, gradually recovered, and
seemed to regain its wonted sprightliness. For more
than a month I kept it confined in a cage, feeding it as
well as I was able on the few insects, &c., which were
to be found ; but in that respect I can safely say it had
sufficient to support its existence. Towards the end of
January the following year, the coldness of the weather
increased, and in consequence I firmly believe my pretty
prisoner met an untimely end, and fell a sacrifice to a
season it was never adapted to contend against ; for one
frosty morning, on paying my customary visit, I found
the little fellow stretched at the bottom of his cage,
lifeless, and frozen to death. If such be the fate of one
in a comfortable room, what must be the fate of others
in the open air, exposed to the blasting winds of winter? "
— W. H. Cordeaux, Canterbury, January, 1851 (Zoologist,.
1851, p. 3054).

62 THE BIRDS OF KENT

GAEDEN WAEBLEE.

Hijlvia salicaria (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 330 (1766).
Sijh'ia Iwrtensis (Gmelin). H.N., i., p. 955 (1788).

Greater Petty-chaps.

The Garden Warbler being rather an obscure bird, and
very shy, more or less keeping to the undergrowth and
thickets, is overlooked, and no doubt it is less abundant
than the Blackcap in some localities. Throughout the
districts visited and the beautiful woodlands traversed it
was extremely rare during the summer of 1906 ; the first
heard and seen was on May 5, and appeared to have
arrived at the same time as the Blackcap, in the
Bilsington district. In the Bulletin of the B.O.C., 1906,
the arrival of the Garden Warbler in Kent is given as
May 7, 1905.

The Garden Warbler is more often than not mistaken
for the female Blackcap and the larger Whitethroat,
The nest and eggs of the Blackcap and Garden Warbler
in many instances are so much alike, both in material
and structure, and the similarity of eggs, that many
expert collectors hesitate before deciding to which they
belong.

There is a peculiar coincidence of dates in the arrivals
at Shooter's Hill, Kent, given by Mr. M. Hutchinson in
the Zoologist, 1844 : " The lovely, modest, drab-coloured
Garden Warbler arrived on May 7 (1844) ; his long-
continued, flute-like song is the softest and sweetest of
all our Warblers. On May 2, 1846, I heard the
melodious song of the Garden Warbler. I was more
than ever struck with the purity and rich sweetness of

GAEDEN WARBLER 63

its deep melodious tone. I found him busily engaged
among the young buds of the underwood oak." The
Garden Warbler is among the Birds Observed at Bain-
ham by Mr. W. H. Power, 1865. He says it " arrived
this year on May 3. It is common in the orchards and
plantations, where in early summer it is constantly heard,
though seldom seen, owing to its retiring habits." On
May 14, 1902, a Garden Warbler was obtained, and this
bird had been heard a week previously, giving May 7 in
the Orlestone district for its first appearance.

In Boys' History of Sandwich, 1792, the Garden
Warbler is included in the birds of that district under
the name of Greater Petty-chaps.

According to the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett in his
Ornithology of Kent {Zoologist), 1844, the Garden Warbler
was " not uncommon." It is also among the Birds of
Highain, according to the Rev. C. H. Fielding, 1882.
In the Stourmouth district it is moderately common,
G. Dowker; Nonington, W, 0. Hammond; Dover, C.
Gordon and G. Gray ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover,
Plomley Collection. In the Birds of Bainham, Mr. W.
Prentis observes that " The Garden Warbler was frequent
in our gardens." Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron.
Mr. E. T. Filmer says the Garden Warbler is rare in
the Orlestone district. What few birds have been
noticed have been near the bottom of Bourne Wood
towards the village of Ham Street.

In Mr. A. G. Butler's Bird's-nesting in Kent, 1875,
he mentions the places and dates of nests procured :
" Canterbury, June 14, 1875 ; Barming, June 8. The
examples of eggs taken at Barming are very pale, the
markings have a washed-out appearance, apparently not
being on the surface of the shells."

64 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus MELIZOPHILUS, Leach.

DAKTFOED WAEBLEE.

Meliz'opJiilns undata (Boddaert). Tahl. des PL Enl.,
p. 40 (1783). Sylvia dartfordiensis, Latham,
Ind. Orn., ii., p. 517 (1790).

The earliest notice of this species in Kent is contained
in Pennant's British Zoology (i., p. 389, pi. Ivi., 1776),
who called it the Dartford Warbler, and says that a
"pair of these were shot on a common near Dartford, in
April, 1773, and communicated to me by Mr. Latham.
They fed on flies, which they sprang on from the furze
bush they sat on ; and then returned to it again." In
1778, according to Professor Newton, "it was described
by Buffon, and figured in the Planches Enluminees in
1783, under the name of Motacilla undata, Boddaert."

Latham, in his General Synoj^sis (vol. ii., pt. 2, p. 435,
1783), adopts the name of Dartford Warbler, and states
that "A pair was brought to me killed by a friend on
Bexley Heath, near Dartford, April 10, 1773, while
sitting on a furze bush. These fed on flies, springing
from the bush on spying one within reach and returning
to the same place repeatedly, in this imitating much the
manner of our cinereous Flycatcher." J. F. Gmelin, in
his Systema Naturce, 1788 (i., p. 958), describes it under
Motacilla provincialis, and Latham in his Pidex Ornitho-
logicus (ii., p. 517, 1790) describes it under the name
Sylvia dartfordiensis. In many works on British Birds
the two latin names are used, therefore Boddaert's specific
name has priority.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of

J.Smit dtl.etKtk.

Bale &Dajn_elssoTa,L imp

DARTFORD WARBLER
MELIZOPHILUS UNDATUS (Bodd.)

DARTFORD WARBLER 65

Kent {Zoologist, 1844), truly remarks : " Though deriving
its name from a Kentish town, this bird is by no means
so common here as in some other parts " ; and strange
to say, from 1773 to this date no good account of the
Hfe-history of this bird appears to have been given of
it in Kent.

In the British Museum there are two specimens, a
male and a young bird from Kent, presented by Colonel
Montagu.

Rennie, in his ArcJiitectare of Birds, says " that he
observed it on Blackheath, suspended over the furze, and
singing on the wing like a Whitethroat or Titlark, as
early as the end of February." Mr. G. Dowker, in his
Birds of East Kent, 1889, on the authority of Mr. C.
Gordon, states that a Dartford Warbler was obtained at
Guston in March, 1887. In the Exeter Museum is a
Dartford Warbler labelled Kent, which was bequeathed
by the Eev. Bower Scott.

The Dartford Warbler on the Banks of the Thames at
Woolwich. — " When out shooting on October 1, I saw,
hopping about in some blackthorn bushes on the banks
of the river, a bird which, from its small size and mouse-
like movements, appeared strange to me. It kept so near
the ground that it was with difficulty I could get a shot,
which only wounded it. I scrambled through the bushes
as quickly as possible, but only in time to see it run into
a rat-hole. After a fruitless attempt to rake it out with
my ramrod I left the spot, but on returning some time
afterwards to the same bushes I found it fluttering about
in them, and, finding I could not catch it, I fired a second
time, fortunately killing it. On examining the bird I
found it to be a fine male specimen of the Dartford
Warbler. In the stomach I found some small grass-
5

66 THE BIRDS OF KENT

hoppers and the wing-case of a small green beetle. When
I fired the first time it uttered a cry somewhat similar
to the squeak of a mouse."— H. Whitely, jun., Woolwich,
October 20, 1863 {Zoologist, 1863, p. 8819).

Genus REGULUS, Cuvier.
GOLDCEEST.

Begulus regulus (Linnaeus). /S'.iV., i., p. 338 (1766).

The Goldcrest is generally distributed throughout the
county of Kent, and it breeds in most of the districts,
especially where fir trees are abundant ; in these locali-
ties it may be found more or less all the year round.
It is more conspicuous in autumn, winter and spring,
when the trees have lost their foliage, then it may be
seen searching for insects in every cone and bud of fir
and oak tree.

On March 10 one was obtained in Burnt Oak Wood,
and several others were seen, and on the 19th of the
same month another was obtained on the railway em-
bankment at Horton Green. It was seen feeding in
the trees in the garden of the rectory at Ruckinge on
October 28, and it was not noticed again until March 10.

This species is included in Boys' Histonj of Sandwich,
1792. It is found in the Bethersden district, according
to Captain J. D. Cameron. Mr. J. W. Hulke, in his
list of Dates of the Arrival of Wi7iter Visitors to Deal,
gives October 13 for the Goldcrest. Writing in 1854,
Mr. C. CoUingwood states that the " Goldcrest in the
neighbourhood of Blackhealth, recommenced to sing on
September 12." Mr. H. Lamb, in his notes, says : " This

FIRECEEST 67

beautiful little bird is coniinon in places where there
are firs. At Groombridge, a part of which is in this
county, it is common, and in Maidstone and the neigh-
bourhood it is not rare. I caught one in August, 1874,
at West Farleigh." There are specimens in the Maid-
stone Museum which were procured at Tunbridge and
Ulcombe, and nests from the Maidstone and Trotters-
cliffe districts.

The Kev. C. H. Fielding says the Goldcrest is a
resident in the Higham and Mailing valley district, and
Mr. G. Dowker, in the Binls of East Kent, .1889, states
that it is a "common resident in the Stourmouth
district," and, on his authority, the following localities
are added : Nonington, W. O. Hammond ; Dover, C.
Gordon, G. Gray and Dr. Plomley ; Elmstone, Eev.
W. B. Delmar ; Walmer, Eev. B. Austen; Folkestone,
H. Ullyett.

FIEECEEST.

Begulus igjiicapillus, Temniinck. Ex. C. L. Brehm,
Man. cVOni., I, p. 231 (1820).

The Firecrest is certainly a scarce bird, although it
may be mistaken for the ordinary Goldcrest. Very few
instances are recorded of it in Kent, which are here
subjoined in accordance with the dates.

In Professor Newton's edition of Yarrell (1871-74), he
mentions that " one is said to have been taken in Kent."
In November, 1876, Lord Clifton states : " I twice saw
a Firecrest here (Cobham, Kent), in company with
Goldcrests, among bracken. I noticed the black stripe
through the eye, which readily distinguishes this bird
from the common species."

68 THE BIBDS OF KENT

In the Birds of East Kent, 1889, Mr. G. Dowker says :
" The Fire-crested Wren is very rare ; it has heen met
with on several occasions, and may be more common
than is generally supposed, being mistaken for the
common Golden-crested Wren : the latter, I often find,
builds in my Deodara. A specimen, on the authority of
Mr. C. Gordon, was obtained at Whitfield, near Dover, in
1884." The Eev. C. H. Fielding gives Higham and the
Mailing valley as localities in which it has been found.
In his Ornithological Notes from Bye, Captain Boyd
Alexander says : " On October 10, a very handsome male
Fire-crested Wren was shot to-day on a tall apple-tree,
in a garden near Lydd." In the Zoologist, 1906, Captain
Boyd Alexander writes that " on March 3, near Tun-
bridge Wells (in Kent), I saw a small bird in a place
where Goldcrests have been fairly numerous this winter,
which I supposed to be of that species ; however, it
approached so near that I was able to see distinctly
the black eye-stripe and white eyebrows which are
characteristic of the Firecrest. Since then several
others, including a well-known ornithologist as well
as myself, have several times observed this bird, and
a second — no doubt its mate — has also been seen."

At a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, held
on January 17, 1906, Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant " exhibited
a male Fire-crested Wren, which had been picked up in
a dying condition at Abbey Wood, Kent, on January 10,
1906, and forwarded to the British Museum by Mrs.
A. G. Mitchell " {Bulletin of the B.O.C., vol. xvi., p. 45,
1906).

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER — CHIFFCHAFF 69

Genus PHYLLOSCOPUS, Boie.
YELLOW-BEOWED WAKBLEE.

PhyUoscopus superciliosus (J. F. Gmelin).
8.N., l, p. 975 (1788).

Several instances of the accidental visit to Great
Britain are recorded of the Yellow-Browed Warbler, and
only once to the county of Kent. Dr. A. G. Butler, the
well-known ornithologist, writing from Beckenham, Kent,
to the Zoologist, 1899, under A Stray Visitor to Kent,
says : " On Saturday morning (April 15), whilst eating
my breakfast opposite a window facing my garden, I
observed a tiny Warbler do me good service b}' cleaning
the aphides from a rose tree. The sun was shining and
the bird was only about 8 feet distant from me, so that
I could see it quite distinctly ; it was about the size of a
Goldcrest, but olive-green above, pale yellow beneath,
and with a well-defined eye stripe. If this was not
PhyUoscopus superciliosus I can give no name to it,
for it was far too small for a Chiffchaff or a Willow
Warbler, both of which I often see, either in the spring
or autumn, in my garden. I watched the bird carefully
for three or four minutes before it flew away."

CHIFFCHAFF.

PhyUoscopus riifiis (Bechstein). Orn. Taschenb., i.,
p. 188 (1802).

The Chiffchaff is one of the earliest of our summer
visitors to arrive in this county, and it may be heard
in all our beautiful woodlands in early spring, even before
the bushes have developed a leaf. There is a great

70 THE BIRDS OF KENT

difference in the dates of those first heard and seen in
the spring, and no doubt our Chiffchaff can endure a
great amount of cold, Hke his northern ally, PJiijUoscopus
borealis.

Our Chiffchaff comes under the name of Less Petty-
chaps in Boys' Birds of Sandwich, 1792.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states, in his Ornith-
ology of Kent, 1844, that " these birds arrive about the
end of March and depart early in October."

The following are interesting notes by Mr. M. Hutchin-
son, in his observations on the arrival of summer birds
at Shooter's Hill, in Kent: "The Chiffchaff was the
first of the absentees whose return I noticed on April 3
(1844) ; his peculiar and distinct note loudly proclaimed
the advent of spring and readily told me of his where-
abouts. The following year, 1845, on April 2, I espied
a little bird flitting about from tree to tree, and soon
heard the peculiar note of the Chiffchaff, the pioneer of
the weather. He had, however, but little to say, for he
seemed to think, with me, that chewing condensed
Thames fog on the summit of Shooter's Hill at break of
day was no treat. Extremes met : the bitter winter of
1844-45 was succeeded by the mildest winter known.
Throughout Europe the winter was so open that there
may be said to have been no winter in 1845-6. In the
spring of 1846 I was therefore early on the look-out for the
return of my musical friends. Hearing that the Chiffchaff'
had been seen on February 27, I diligently, but ineffect-
ually, sought it till March 11, when my old acquaintance,
on the top of Shooter's Hill, announced his arrival as the
harbinger of a forward spring. Some woodmen had
heard one lower down in the woods about a fortnight
earlier. On the 12th I observed three Chiffchaffs, and

CHIFFCHAFF 71

Oil the 27tb never noticed them more numerous or
noisy." At Blackheath Mr. C. ColKngwood first noticed
the " Chiffchaff in Love Lane on April 3, 1854, and he
says it recommenced to sing on August 31."

Mr. W. H. Power, in his notes in the Birds of Bain-
ham, says : " It is a remarkable fact that, although the
Willow^ Wren is so common, yet the Chiffchaff itself is
exceedingly rare in this district. I never heard it before
this year (1865), and even then quite late in the season,
namel}', the second week in September." It is migratory,
and moderately common in the Stourmouth district,
according to Mr. G. Dowker, who adds the following
localities: Nonington, W. 0. Hammond; Dover, C.
Gordon and Dr. Plomley ; Ehustone, Rev. W. B. Delmar ;
Folkestone, H. UUyett. It is a summer visitor to the
Mailing valley, Bev. C. H. Fielding, It is also found in
the Bethersden district, Captain J. D. Cameron ; and
common at Orlestone and the neighbourhood, E. T,
Filmer ; and it was heard on April 12, 1902, in the same
district. Mr. J. B. Groom, of Maidstone, heard a Chiff-
chaff on March 3, 1906, on Boxley Hills, in Kent.

In the Zoologist, 1899, Dr. A. G. Butler gives some
interesting particulars respecting the Chiffchaff and its
nest. "My friend, Mr. George Alcock, who is much
interested in British birds, sends me the following note,
which, I think, is worth publishing : ' A Chiffchaff' {Phijl-
loscopits riifiis) built in my garden at the top of a yew
10 feet above the ground. It built a second time on the
top of a box-bush 4 feet above the ground. I have
found scores, but have never before seen one in these
positions. In each case the young came to maturity.
There were four eggs each time.' "

Respecting the Chiffchaff singing in autumn, Mr. A.

72 THE BIRDS OF KENT

H. Micklejolin, of Ashford, Kent, in writing to the
Zoologist, 1901, states : " While dressing on the mornings
of September 28 and 29, I distinctly heard a Chiffchaff
{Phylloscopus rufiis) singing, my bedroom window being
open at the time. As I was rather sceptical about it,
I went out afterwards in the garden and saw the bird
busily feeding among the leaves oi a sycamore. I
watched it for about a quarter of an hour, and during
that short time it sang thrice, not faint-heartedly, but
in good voice. I heard it several times afterwards up
till one o'clock, when the song ceased altogether. The
weather was remarkably warm and the sun very bright."
Mr. E. J. Balston has heard it at Boxley Abbey very
late in the year, and took a nest of this species on May 15,
1879, containing six eggs ; it was placed in a butcher's
broom bush two feet from the ground ; he also heard this
bu-d on March 18, 1880.

WILLOW-WAKBLEE.

PJujUoscopus trocJiilus (Linnaeus). >S'.A"., i., p. 338

(176G).

The Willow-Warbler is a far more abundant species in
the spring than the Chiffchaff, and it does not make its
appearance as early as the latter bird. Its soft short
song may be heard in all the smaller woods and hedge-
rows throughout the county in April and May.

The earliest seen and heard in 1902 was on April 16,
in Burnt Oak Wood, Orlestone ; and in 1905 the last seen
was on October 17, in Eoraney Marsh, below Euckinge.
It is common in the Orlestone district according to Mr.
R. T. Filmer.

WILLOW-WARBLER 73

It is under the name of Yellow Wren in Boys' History
of Sandwich, 1792. Writing in 1844 the Kev. J. Peni-
berton Bartlett says " the Willow-Wren is common in
Kent."

The Willow- Wren is given among the arrivals of summer
birds at Shooter's Hill, Kent, by Mr. M. Hutchinson in
1844, who writes : " As I turned off Woolwich Common
(on the morn of April 16), into the brushwood that covers
the western face of Shooter's Hill, the jocund spring
burst on me with all its charms. The wood rang again
with the incessant song of the little Willow- Wren given
in all the height of excitement, and singing against each
other by scores. For three weeks, morning and evening,
I never passed along the Dover road without observing
a Willow- Wren sing its utmost on the tip-top of the
Lombardy poplar. In the following spring of 1845, the
Willow- AVren was found on April 7. On April 3, 1846,
as I rode through the brushwood on Shooter's Hill, I
observed a little light-coloured bird being driven about by
a sturdy Stonechat. The little fellow whipped into a
bramble bush, and I instantly heard the joyous song of
the gallant little Willow-Wren, a moment after he was
paying his respects to a pair of dicky dunnocTxS ; the bird
was all excitement, and scarcely knew what to be at.
On the 4th I met with numbers of Willow- Wrens on the
east of Plumstead Common, and rode with them for some
time in their progress westward. This, and other obser-
vations, lead me to think that many of the smaller birds
of passage came up the valley of the Thames with the
river for their guide. At Blackheath the earliest seen
was on April 19, 1859, and in 1861 on April 19 and 26.
The long and severe winter of 1860-61 delayed the
arrivals. On May 2 I saw a pair of Willow- Wrens

74 THE BIRDS OF KENT

building, and mighty fussy and important they were
about it." Mr. C. Collingwood gives April 10, 1854, for
the arrival at Elmstead in Kent.

The dates of arrivals in Kent of the Willow-Warbler,
given in the Bulletin of the B.O.C., 1905, are April 10,
11, 12, and they increased on April 27 and 28.

Two or three were observed in the Orlestone district
on April 22, 1906, and it was not until April 28 that the
first was seen at Uuckinge. It remained feeding on the
lawn in front of the house for a week.

Dr. A. G. Butler describes in the Zoologist a nest of
this species, and says : " I obtained a nest of the Willow-
AVarbler in which the dome-like covering was wholly
absent ; the nest was in a most singular position, being
placed upon the earth under a gooseberry bush in an
orchard, one of the rough clods somewhat overhanging it,
and thus rendering the completion of the nest unneces-
sary. This nest is composed almost entirely of slender
dry grasses, thickly lined inside with dark soft feathers ; it
contains four eggs, which are unusually well marked with
large red-brown spots." And in his British Birds' Eggs
he remarks : " Though commonly placed upon the ground,
the nest is not invariably found in that position ; one that
I took on June 16, 1881, was built over 2 feet from the
ground in the drooping branches of a wild rose-bush in
a garden at Tunstall in Kent."

Four specimens of this species were shot on April
27, 1879, at Boxley. They were all males and in non-
breeding plumage.

On April 29, 1906, four Willow-Warblers were seen in
the sallows overhanging a large pond at Bilsington ; they
were acting the Flycatcher by springing up into the air
for their prey.

WOOD-WAKBLER 75

WOOD-WAEBLEE.

Phijlloscopus sihilatrix (Bechstein). NaturforscJi.,
xxvii., p. 47 (1793).

The Wood- Warbler does not appear to be a very
common species in this county. It prefers large and
dense old woods far inland, which are not always acces-
sible to the wandering naturalist. Its habit of keeping to
the higher branches of large trees also prevents a closer
observation of it. If the voice of this bird is once heard
its presence is easily detected afterwards, it being very
different from all the other warblers. Several of these
beautiful green warblers were observed in the large fir
trees in Broadwater Forest near Tunbridge Wells in the
early autumn of 1905.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Kent {Zoologist), 1844, states that this species is common.
In the list of arrivals of summer birds at Blackheath,
by C. Colling wood, the date is given as May 3, 18-54, at
Greenwich Park. In the Birds Observed at Bainham
Mr. W. H. Power says : " The Wood- Wren is an un-
certain visitant, occurred this year (1865) on April 20";
and Mr. AV. Prentis states that it is seen only on passage.
According to Mr. E. T. Filmer the Wood-Warbler is
not so common as formerly in the Orlestone district.
For many years it had a nest on one side or the other
of the railway line near Bourne Wood crossing.

It is also included among the birds in the following
localities : Higham and the Mailing valley, Eev. C. H.
Fielding ; moderately common in the Stourmouth dis-
trict, G. Dowker ; Nonington, W. 0. Hammond; Dover,
C. Gordon and Dr. Plomley ; Elmstone, Eev. W. B.

70 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Delioar ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett. An interesting note
appears in the Zoologist, 1896, respecting this species, by
Captain Boyd Alexander : " The first appearance of the
Wood-AVarbler in the Cranbrook district this year is a
noteworthy incident. The favoured localities are certain
spots in the Angley and Bedgebury Woods, where tall firs
and beech trees grow. From these high points this dain-
tiest and prettiest of our Warblers proclaimed his arrival
on one sunny day near the end of April by the utterance
of his peculiarly fascinating song — a ting ' hip hip hip
hurra.' The first three syllables are given out with
distinct hesitation, a mere prelude wherein to gain
strength for the final outburst of song. This finale,
which rises in pitch towai'ds the end, and uttered with
wings shivering and head thrown back, has all the
appearance of being the expression of a deep passion of
joy. Then, as if weary with such a supreme effort, it
sluggishly flops to a fresh perch, and there gathers
strength for another demonstration of its musical capaci-
ties. The male of this species arrives here before the
female. And as soon as his song has attracted and won
a mate, they become less frequent, and cease altogether
when the young are hatched."

Genus HYPOLAIS, C. L. Brehm.

ICTEEINE WAEBLEE.

Hijpolais icterina (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet. cVHist.
Nat., xi., p. 194 (1817.)

Ornithologists are indebted to the late Dr. F. Plomley
for the only record of the occurrence of this species in
Kent. His account of it in the Zoologist, 1848, is as

ICTERINE WARBLER 77

follows : " Those interested in Natural History, more
particularly in Ornitholof^y, will be pleased to hear of
the capture, for the first time in the British Isles, of
the Icterdne Warbler ^ {Hijpolais icterina), which was
killed at Eythorne, near Dover, on June 15, 1848. It
is a beautiful specimen, and in the most perfect plumage,
and the person who shot it was attracted by its extra-
ordinary loud and melodious song. It is a species which
has hitherto never been found in England, and Gould
states, in his Birds of Europe, that it is somewhat
singular that this species, so familiar to every naturalist
on the Continent, and which inhabits the gardens and
hedgerows of those portions of the coasts of France and
Holland that are immediately opposite our own, should
not, like the rest of its immediate congeners, more
diminutive in size, and consequently less capable of
performing extensive flights, have occasionally strayed
across the Channel and enlivened our glens and groves
with its rich and charming song, which is far superior
to that of either of the three other species of the group,
and only equalled by those of the Blackcap and Nightin-
gale. The bird, beautifully preserved by Mr. C. Gordon,
of the Dover Museum, is in the possession of Mr. John
Chaffey, of Dodington, whose collection of rare British
birds is unrivalled."

The specimen is now in the collection of Dr. Scott,
of Chudleigh.

' In the Zoologist, 1848, tliis bird appeared under the name of the
Melodious Willow-Wren {Sijlvia hijjjmlais of Temminck).

78 THE BlllDS OF KENT

Genus ACROCEPHALUS, Namnami.
EEED-WARBLEE.

Acrocephaliis streperus (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet.
cVHist. Nat., xi., p. 182 (1817).

This species is very numerous in all the tall reed-beds
in the marshes, and on the river banks in various parts
of the county. Its favourite haunts are those of reed-
bound lakes and large ponds, especially those on inland
private property, and it is very partial to large patches
of lilac bushes, the upright stems of which form a strong
support for the nests, which are not only built in a fork,
but will also embrace three or four straight, upright
stems, answering, as they do, for the stems of the reeds.

The Keed-Warbler is one of the most familiar birds of
our overgrown sedge-covered ditches, ponds and lakes.
The bird is not silenced by an intruder on its privacy
and nesting-place, but will contmue its zig-zag notes
even when all else is hushed. Its curiosity is very funny,
for it will even come close up to one, to make sure of
the visitor's presence, before getting out of reach, without
the slightest sign of timidity. In the last edition of
Yarrell's British Birds it is stated that "the nest and
eggs were sent to the late Mr. Lightfoot, from Dartford,
in 1783, by Dr. Latham, who did not know the bird to
which they belonged."

In 1802 the species was admitted by Montagu to the
Ornitliological Dictionary, and said to have been found
by him along the coasts of Kent and Sussex, from Sand-
wich to Arundel.

It is common on the Eoyal Military Canal, more
especially at the Eye end, according to Mr. K. T. Filmer.

EEED-WARBLEll 79

The late Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
also states that it is connnon in Kent.

The following excellent account of the habits and
nidificationof the Reed-Warbler appeared in the Zoologist
in 1848, written by Mr. AV. H. Thomas :—

" These merry, courageous little birds are common
within a few miles of London. I have found them in
abundance in the reed-beds on the banks of the Thames,
between Erith and Greenwich. In seeking them you
must not be afraid of labour in pushing your way through
reeds ; you must likewise take care to get as firm a
footing as possible, for many of these places are very
treacherous, and I have more than once suddenly sunk
with one leg into a deep hole, and liave had some
difficulty in extricating myself. When hunting in such
places I generally have a stout hedge-stake or clothes-
prop to try the soundings with.

" From the time that the reeds are half grown until the
latter end of July these birds frequent them in abundance,
and their nests, with eggs or young, may be readily
found. I have taken the young as late as August 13.
They continue about the reeds until the middle or end
of this month, when I believe they migrate, with the
exception of an occasional late-hatched bird.

" The food of the Reed-Warbler principally consists of
small spiral-shaped shell-snails, which occur in great
plenty in reed-beds, often completely covering the lower
part of the reed-stems ; they also eat beetles, and a
variety of small insects.

" In ditches, where reeds grow thickly, and the sides
have plenty of stunted thorn bushes intermingled with
brambles and rank grass, the Reed- and Sedge-Warblers
{Calamoherpe ariindinacea) , are close and sociable neigh-

80 THE BIRDS OF KENT

bonus, and I have frequently found the nests of both
species within a dozen yards of each other.

" The Eeed-Warbler's nest is suspended from the stems
of the reeds, although the outer branches of the thorn
bushes are often entangled with them. The Sedge-
Warbler's nest is always fixed in the low thorn bushes,
and out of many dozens that I have found, I have never
met with one fixed to the reeds, unless a straj^ stem
growing through tlie bushes has now and then been, as
it were, accidentally intertwined from its being placed
on an outer branch, but even this very rarely happens.
In other places, where reeds have been scarce and not
sufficiently thick to hide the nest, by the side of ditches
and near gardens, I have' found the nest of the Reed-bird
placed in closely branched elder trees.

" The nest of the Reed- Warbler is often elegantly built,
and generally fixed to three or four reed-stems. It is
composed of slender blades of grass, interwoven with
the reed-tops and the dry spongy substance which covers
many of the marsh ditches ; also dry duckweed, and
here and there a long piece of sedge is wound securely
around it ; the lining is of the finer flowering stems of
grass, intermixed with a little horse hair. It is a deep
and solid structure, so that the eggs cannot easily roll
out ; it is firmly fastened to the reeds in tide ditches
and rivers, at the height of three or four feet from the
water, but in still ditches often not more than a foot.

" The eggs are generally five, rather larger than those
of the Sedge-bird, and are of a greenish tint, thickly
blotched with darker ash-colour at the larger end, the
smaller end being spotted with light brown ; the
markings are of different sizes, and sometimes vary in
the same nest. In windy weather, when wading

KEED-WARBLER 81

through the reed-beds, I have seen nests, with both old
and young in them, blown nearly to the surface of the
water ; but the birds fix their claws firmly to the sides
of the nest, with their heads to windward, and thus ride
as securely in their cradles as a sailor does in his cot or
hammock.

" The nest is rarely blown down, for when the men
cut the reeds in winter they frequently find it firmly
fixed to the stalks, and call it the "reed-sparrow's."

" As soon as the young ones quit the nest, which they
do early, they are very active, and nimblj^ hop up and
down the reed-stems, it matters not which end upper-
most ; they are very tenacious in their grasp, and very
noisy and clamorous for food. Both old and young, at
this time, utter a screaming note, something similar to
that of young Starlings, with now and then a deep, harsh
' churr.' "

Mr. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain, 1879, says :
" It also frequents all the fluviatile districts of Kent, kc.
The incessant babbling made by numbers of this bird
and the Sedge-Warbler at sunrise on the banks of the
Thames is beyond my power to describe."

During a bird's-nesting tour in Kent in 1875, Dr. A. G.
Butler found the " Reed- Warbler breeding at Tonge Mill,
Tonge, near Sittingbourne, on June 5 and 11 ; two forms
of eggs, one greenish, the other greyish, with a cuckoo's
egg in the latter."

In his OrjiitJwIogical Notes from Bomney Marshy
Captain Boyd Alexander writes : " Many parts of the
large dykes and pools have dried up, and are now nothing"
more than thick reed-beds. In these reedy places the
Eeed-Warbler has found a home. Any sudden noise
will cause this bird to sing vehemently, while the foot-
6

82 THE BIRDS OF KEKT

falls of a passer-by invariably draws from him a song."
Among the birds on the beach at Dungeness, Mr. T.
Hepbm-n says : " July 16 to 21 : Found three nests of
the Reed-Warbler in the reeds fringing a pool of water
on the marshland, one containing three perfectly fresh
eggs, another with three young birds and an addled
egg, and a third from which the birds had evidently
just flown. The birds were singing all round in the
reed-beds."

There are specimens of the nests and eggs of this bird
in the Maidstone Museum. A nest from Furnace Pond,
Horsemonden, obtained by Mr. Hr Usmar ; a nest and
three eggs from Hollingbourne, taken in June, 1880,
by Mr. J. Coveney, and another nest and three eggs,
found at East Farleigh, July 12, 1890, by Mr. A. Hunt.

The Eeed- Warbler has been noted in the following
localities : Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron ; Stour-
mouth, G. Dowker; Nonington, Wingham, AV. 0.
Hammond ; Elmstone, Eev. AV. B. Delmar ; Walmer,
Rev. B. Austen ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Dover, Dr. F.
Plomley ; the Medway valley, E. Bartlett and H. Lamb.

The bird arrives late in April, but no fixed dates have
yet been obtained.

MARSH-WARBLER.

Acrocephalus palustris (Bechstein). Orn. Taschenb.,
p. 186 (1802).

Although the Reed-Warbler is so plentiful in all the
reed-beds in Kent, the Marsh-AVarbler has hitherto
escaped the observations of naturalists in this county,
and the only reference to a supposed specimen is con-

GEEAT KEED-WARBLER 83

tained in Mr. AV. Prentis's Birds of Rainliam, 1894, who
says : " I have a specimen of the Marsh-Warbler — if the
distinction is a broader bill than that of the Reed-Warbler
— which was shot in a garden beside a reed-bed at Milton,
May, 1866."

GEEAT REED-WARBLEE.

Acrocephalus turcloides (Meyer). Vog. Liv-u.-
EstJil, p. 116 (1815).

The earliest and most reliable notices of the occurrence
of this species in Kent are as follows : —

The Rev. F. 0. Morris noticed one killed by the side of
a pond near Sittingbourne on May 4, 1853. This speci-
men, according to Mr. Chaffey, of Dodington, was
obtained by Mr. G. Thomas, of that place.

One was obtained between Tunbridge and Sevenoaks,
and another at Erith ; these are given, but no data are
attached to them.

There is a specimen of the Great Reed-Warbler,
labelled Kent, among the Kentish birds bequeathed to
the Exeter Museum by the Rev. Bower Scott ; here
again no data are attached to it.

The most interesting account of the discovery of this
bird in this county was written by the late Mr. W.
Oxenden Hammond in 1881, which is here subjoined : —

" While snipe-shooting on September 14, 1881, I came
across a AVarbler of some kind, which I failed to identify
satisfactorily, I had marked a snipe down, as I believed,
in a watercress-covered stream which flowed between an
alder-bed on one bank and a bank of very high reeds on
the other. I had not gone far up the windings of this

84 THE BIRDS OF KENT

channel, pushing aside the tall Lijthrum and Eupatorla
as I went, when the bird in question rose out of the
coarse herbage and instantly entered the reed-bed oppo-
site. Being struck with its appearance, which differed
both in size, colour, and manner of flight from the Eeed-
Warblers that I had met with more or less all day, I
signalled to my keeper, who was carrying my marsh-
jumping pole, and when he came up I sent my retriever
into the reeds where the bird had entered. The bird
moved through the reeds at once before the dog, and my
keeper seeing it, forced it out by a thrust or two of the
pole. It flew along the water-course very low, just
topping the cresses, with a weak, fluttering flight, and
some dust-shot then struck it down. I anticipated no
difficulty in identifying it by a reference to Gould's Birds
of Great Britain, and I turned at once to the description
of the Thrush-AVarbler, Acrocephalus turdoides. Beauti-
ful, however, as are the plates, and admirable as are the
popular descriptions in this work, it is unfortunately
wanting generally in precise information as to measure-
ments, colour, &c., and in this instance nothing beyond
the plate is given towards identifying a supposed speci-
men. Gould's figure measures 8 inches; my bird
measures 7f inches. The general aspect, structure and
size of the bill, and markings — as far as the bird possesses
them — agree, with the exception of feet and tarsi, which
in the coloured plate are of a pale yellowish-brown, and
in my freshly killed bird a very decided hght bluish-slate
colour. Without professing to give a scientific descrip-
tion of my bird, I should describe it as follows : Bill,
upper mandible brown, lower purplish-brown, lighter
towards the gape ; point of gape, 1 inch exactly. Top of
head raw umber-brown, with a lighter line over the eye

GREAT REED-WARBLER 85

from the base of the bill to the top of the auricles. Upper
portion of head, neck, back, wing- coverts, primaries,
secondaries and tertials, umber-brown, with a raw sienna
tint. Kump and tail the same brown with a reddish-
yellow tint. Chin whitish. Under-parts whitish tinged
with raw sienna, deeper on the coverts of the thighs.
Under tail-coverts tinged with yellowish-brown. Greater
wing-coverts and primaries faintly margined on outer
webs and end of feathers. Eleven feathers in tail ; middle
feather the longest ; tail cuneiform. Irides brown.
Length from point of bill to end of tail, 7f inches. Tarsi
bluish-slate, ItV inches long ; toes brownish. Second
quill-feather the longest in the wing. The bill is strong,
and the form of the head very like a Kedwing's ; in other
respects the form more nearly resembles the aquatic
warblers, though somewhat more elongated. Can you
help me to identify this species ? I have been particular
in a description of its manners when first moved, since
its disinclination to leave the reed-bed and its very short
flight coincide with Gould's description of the Thrush-
Warbler. Its greater length and deeper colouring are
the chief points where agreement is wanting; but per-
haps, if his work has a fault, it is in its general too high
colouring.

" Since writing the above I am convinced the bird is
Acrocephalus turdoides. Mr. Gordon, the Curator of the
Dover Museum, is quite satisfied about it. We have
compared it with Yarrell, and it answers exactly, with
the exception of the length — 7f inches, against Yarrell's
and Gould's 8 inches, and the colour of the legs, given by
both Gould and Yarrell as brown ; whereas mine, when
fresh, were slaty-blue. My bird's legs having dried, have
now turned brown. As to length, Yarrell quotes Latham

86 THE BIRDS OF KENT

and does not speak from his own observation, and no one
can read Gould's letterpress without seeing that he
mainly went to Yarrell for his description. On skinning
my bird it" turned out to be " a perfect ball of fat " — so
Gordon described it, and this might perhaps account for
its laboured flight, which surprised me." — W. Oxeuden
Hammond (St. Alban's Court, AVingham, Kent).

The specimen above described is mounted and grouped
with a nest and one egg in the Canterbury Museum, but
there are no particulars given with regard to the nest and

■-«&•

AQUATIC WAEBLEK.

Acrocephalus aquaticus (J. F. Gnielin).
8.N., i., p. 953 (1788).

Mr. J. H. Gurney, juii., was the first to call attention
to a specimen of the Aquatic Warbler which had been
obtained in this county. He wrote the following par-
ticulars to the Zoologist in 1871 : —

" On February 2, 1871, I detected an Aquatic Warbler
{Galamodijta aquatica, Latham) among the British birds
of the late Dr. Plomley at the Dover Museum, which
Mr. C. Gordon, the Curator, informed me had been shot
by himself in the vicinity. The date is lost, but I have
no suspicion of a mistake."

Supposed Occurrence of Sylvia aquatica in Kent. — " On
October 12, while rambling over the Cliffe marshes, near
the Thames, I saw a little bird flitting along a reedy
ditch, which at first sight I considered to be a Sedge-
Warbler. Pursuing it, however, with my glass in hand,
I got a very near view of the bird, and was surprised to

SEDGE-WARBLER 87

find a broad blackish band on each side of the head,
giving it the appearance of having the whole head black
in certain attitudes. This, added to the very distinct
markings on the upper surface, gave the bird an odd,
bunting-like appearance while creeping about the bottom
of the reeds ; on the wing, however, it was indistinguish-
able from a Sedge-Warbler, except, as I fancied, by a
warmer and richer colouring. Consulting Bree and Gould
I was confirmed in the view I take, viz., that the bird
was the Aquatic Warbler. The distinct, broad, blackish
band seems to me to give a clear mark of distinction
from the Sedge-Warbler." — Chfton, Cobbam Hall, Kent,
October 14, 1875 {Zoologist, 1875, p. 4693).

SEDGE-WAEBLEE.

Acrocephaliis pliragmitis (Bechstein.) Orn. Tas-
cJienh., p. 186 (1802).

The Sedge-Warbler arrives in April, and is to be found
in all the reed-beds of the marshes, rivers, ponds and
ditches in the county, especially those of Komney Marsh
and the Lower Medway. Mr. T. Hepburn says it was
" common everywhere amongst the growth on the edges
of pools and dykes on the beach at Dangeness." It is
plentiful on the Koyal Military Canal according to Mr.
K. T. Filmer, and Mr. E. F. M. Elms found the
" Sedge-AVarbler in large numbers among the ditch-reeds
at New Komney and Littlestone, incessantly uttering
their chiding notes, but (May 18, 1902) seemed as yet to
have no eggs.'' Among the summer arrivals in the neigh-
bourhood of Blackheath, Mr. C. Collingwood gives April

88 THE BIRDS OF KENT

16, 1854, for the first seen at Burnt-Ash Farm, Kent.
Mr. H. Lamb states that " this bird is to be found near
the river in places round Maidstone. I have several eggs
from Allington Woods, about two miles from the town."

During his bird's-nesting in Kent, in 1875, Dr. A. G.
Butler found this species breeding at Murston, and
describes the eggs. " On May 29 found a variety mottled
like White-throat's eggs ; Murston, May 26, I cannot
identify this with any other species ; the nest was of the
usual type." It has also been observed and obtained in
various localities, as follows : Bethersden, Captain J. D.
Cameron. Summer visitor to the Higham and Mailing
Valley districts, Eev. C. H. Fielding. It is abundant in
the Stourmouth Marshes, G. Dowker ; Nonington and
Wingham, W. 0. Hammond ; Elmstone, Kev. W. B.
Delmar ; Walmer, Kev. B. Austen ; Folkestone, H.
Ullyett ; Dover, C. Gordon, Dr. Plomley and G. Gray.

In the report on the immigration of summer residents
in the spring o£ 1905, published in the Bulletin of the
B.O.C., 1906, the Sedge-Warbler arrived on April 22,
May 7, 8 and 24, in Kent.

Genus LOCUSTELLA, Kaup.

GEASSHOPPEE WAEBLEE.

Locustella ncevia (Boddaert). Table des PI. Enl.,
p. 35. No. 581 (1783).

Cricket-bird.

The Grasshopper Warbler is far from being a common
bird in Kent, and it prefers certain localities in which
the old undergrowth of vegetation is most dense. It

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 89

is extremely shy and difficult to see, creeping about as
it does in tangled masses of bramble and furze.

Mr. C. Collingwood states that the " earliest one
observed among the summer arrivals at Shooter's Hill
was on April 17, 1854."

It was seen on the top of Boxley Hills on April 23,
1867.

There is a female in the Maidstone Museum, with the
nest and two eggs, which were obtained on May 11,
1882, at Hollingbourne, by Mr. J. Coveney.

On June 5, 1906, the Grasshopper Warbler was heard
in the woods at Bilsington, and no doubt had a nest
there, but it could not be found.

Mr. E. T. Filmer writes that it is rare : " I usually
managed to hear one in the summer, but I have never
seen one. The path from the railway bridge towards
Orlestone Church is a good place on a nice evening for
one to be heard."

In his Ornitliology of Kent, 1844, the Rev. J. Pem-
berton Bartlett says it is " common," and Dr. A. G.
Butler found it breeding in Stockbury valley in Kent. It
is also mentioned by the Rev. C. H. Fielding as among
the summer visitors at Higham and the Mailing valley,
and Mr. G. Dowker says it is rare in the Stourmouth
district, and adds the following localities in which it has
been observed : Nonington, W. 0. Hammond ; Dover,
C. Gordon and Dr. F. Flomley; Folkestone, H. Ullyett.
In the Birds of Rainham, Mr. W. Prentis mentions " a
singular variety obtained on June 5, 1869. Back,
greenish-brown, with darker markings ; breast, greenish-
yellow, without spots. It was a male, shot while
singing."

The late Mr. A. D. Bartlett, in his youth, being an

90 THE BIRDS OF KENT

ardent egg-collector, made many excursions into Kent
for eggs of rare Warblers, and happened to be sitting on
the outskirts of a wood between Greenhithe and Dart-
ford, when he caught sight of a Grasshopper AVarbler
come out from the lower part of a large stack of faggots,
and then saw the bird go back. He immediately set to
work to remove part of the faggots, but he found that it
was necessary to commence at the top of the stack. At
last, after much labour, he succeeded in getting the nest
and four eggs, to his great delight ; but at the same time
expecting every moment to be seized by the owner of the
stack, he did not stop there to put the faggots back.
The subjoined are interesting notes on this bird, by
Captain H. AV. Hadfield, which appeared in the Zoologist,
1857 :—

" May 6, 1857. In passing through a wood on my
return from the village of Pembury, I heard the peculiar
but well-known note of this singular little bird, which I
was not long in discovering, as it was perched on one of
the topmost twigs of a bush, at the distance of 30 yards.
The Grasshopper Warbler, we are told, is generally dis-
persed, and so it may be ; nevertheless, it is my belief
that not one person in fifty has ever set eyes on it,
though possibly they may have heard the notes, which,
doubtless, would be taken for those of the Grasshopper
or Cricket. But even if occasionally seen (which, from
its skulking habits, is not likely), it would probably,
unless in the very act of singing, be taken for a White-
throat, to which it bears a striking resemblance, particu-
larly when creeping among the bushes. Having shot
the bird, and wishing to compare it, I turned over
Temminck's beautiful coloured prints, and might have
continued to do so from that time to this without recog-

SAVl's WARBLER 91

nising it, had it not been for the name at the foot of the
page, for the artist has made both throat and belly black,
whereas those parts are white. The work referred to
originally belonged to Yarrell (who had made notes in it,
and added an English index), or I could have fancied the
prints had been tampered with."

SAVI'S WAEBLEE.

Locustella luscinioides (Savi). Nuova GiornaJe
cle' Litterati, vii., p. 341 (1824).

The only record of this species having been found in
Kent is given by Mr. James Green, in the Zoologist, 1853,
who says : "I have now by me the nest and five eggs
of Savi's Warbler, which I took at Erith, in Kent, on
May 28, 1853."

Mr. J. E. Harting, in his Handbook of British Birds,
1872, states that " the eggs have also been taken in
Essex, Kent and Devonshire."

Professor Newton, in Yarrell's British Birds, 1871-74,
remarks that the late Mr. Green records {Zoologist,
1853, p. 2849 and p. 3945) nests taken at Dagenham and
Erith in 1850 and 1853 respectively.

Genus ACCENTOR, Bechstein.

HEDGE-SPAEEOW.

Accentor modularis (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 329

(1766).

Dicky Dunnocks, Hedge Poker.

The Hedge-Sparrow is very plentiful throughout the
county. It is to be found in every garden and hedge-
row, where it may be seen all the year round, and, like

92 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the Robin, is one of our most familiar birds. In severe
weather it comes to the home of man, seeking its food up
to the door, searching everything that is thrown from the
kitchen for dainty morsels.

It is one of the earliest breeders, like the Eobin. A
nest was found at Edenbridge with four eggs on February
4, 1906. Another was observed at Bilsington on April 23,
with four eggs in it, but the weather became very severe,
and it was deserted after the eggs were hard set. The
majority of the nests are not built until the early part of
May, one was seen on the 18th, then they became very
numerous. Dr. A. G. Butler found nests at Sitting-
bourne on May 24 and 27, and at Barming on June 8.

The Hedge-Sparrow does not appear to be a migratory
species ; they do not diminish in numbers during the
hardest winters.

Genus MIMUS, Boie.
NOETHEEN MOCKING-BIED.

Mimus polyglottus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 293
(1766).

The only occurrence of this species in Kent is recorded
by Mr. W. H. Cordeaux in the Zoologist, 1851, as follows :
" About August 19 (1851) a fine specimen of this bird
was killed on a farm near Ash ford."

This, like the Migratory Thrush, was no doubt an
escaped bird from a vessel or an aviary.

DIPPER ' 93

Family CINCLID^.

Genus CINCLUS, Beclistein.
DIPPEE.

Cinclus aquaticus, Beclistein. Orn. Taschenb., i.,
p. 206 (1802).

The Dipper, being one of our most northern residents,
rarely makes its appearance on the south-eastern coast.
The earhest notice of this bird in Kent is that contained
in the Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett's Ornithology of Kent,
(Zoologist, 1844), who says it is " very rare," and in the
Zoologist, 1850, Dr. F. Plomley notes one " on or near the
coast of Dover, January 1(), 1850." There are two speci-
mens in the Maidstone Museum labelled Kent, presented
by Mr. G. Simmons.

Mr. G. Dowker states that it is a " very rare, acci-
dental visitor, and that Mr. C. Gordon records one from
Biver, near Dover."

The only other occurrence is that communicated to the
Zoologist, 1891, by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who states
" that between October 29, 1890, and Christmas of the
same year a Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus) was shot on the
rocks at Kamsgate."

BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER.
Cinclus cinclus (Linna3us). S.N., l, p. 290 (1766).

On the authority of Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of
East Kent, 1889, and that of Mr. C. Gordon, one was
shot at Folkestone, and is now in the Folkestone
Collection.

94 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family PANURID^.

Genus PANURUS, Koch.

BEAEDED TITMOUSE.

Panurus hiarmicus (Linnseus). S.N., i., p. 342
(1766).

The occurrences of the Bearded Titmouse in Kent at
the present day are extremely rare, and one may say
accidental, compared with former times, when the large,
over-grown wild marshes which existed were unreclaimed.

In Yarrell's British Birds (1843) it is mentioned that
" eastward from London the Bearded Tit inhabits the
various reed-beds on the banks of the Thames both in
Kent and Essex."

In his Ornitlwlogy of Kent {Zoologist, 1844), the Eev.
J. Pemberton Bartlett states it is " occasionally found
in Romney Marsh." Morris, in his British Birds, also
gives between Erith and London, and the Kentish coast
of the River Thames.

Professor Newton, in the fourth edition of Yarrell's
British Birds (1871-74), says : " A few may still breed,
as heretofore, in East Suffolk, in Essex, Kent, or even
Surrey, but there is no satisfactory evidence that such
is the case."

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, mentions
one shot some years ago at Monckton, by Mr. W. Austen ;
and the Eev. B. Austen gives Walmer as a locality.
There is a specimen in the Exeter Muesum labelled
Kent, the bequest of the Eev. Bower- Scott, and a pair
of these birds are contained in the collection of Kentish
birds in the Maidstone Museum from Mr. G. Simmons.

BRITISH LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE 95

Dr. A. G. Butler, in bis British Birds' Eggs, 1886, states :
" I have also seen a nest, but witbout eggs, at Kemsle}',
on tbe Kentisb coast. The nest was placed upon a small
island of partly decayed reeds (trodden down by Moor-
bens and Ducks) near the centre of a large pond. It is
therefore clear that the county of Kent is not yet wholly
deserted as a breeding-place by this species."

Mr. W. Prentis records, in his Birds of Bainham
(1894), " three that were shot in a reed-bed on the banks
of the Medwav in the winter of 1865, near Maidstone."

Family PARID^.

Genus ACREDULA, Koch.

WHITE-HEADED LONG-TAILED
TITMOUSE.

AcreduJa caudata (Linna-us). 8.N., i., p. 342 (1766).

The only recorded example of tbis species having been
obtained in Kent is upon the authorities of Messrs. C.
Gordon and G. Dowker, in the latter's Birds of East
Kent, 1889. The specimen was killed near Dover Castle.
It was, or now is, in the collection of Mr, W. Prentis.

BEITISH LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE.

Acredula rosea (Blyth). White's Nat. Hist.
Selborne, p. Ill, note, 1836.

Bottle Tit.

The British Long-tailed Titmouse is generally distri-
buted over the county. These curious little titmice
may be seen in the latter part of the summer, and

96 THE BIRDS OF KENT

through the winter until spring in small families of
from five to eight in number, passing through, and
searching all the hedges and trees in their rambles for
insects. In the spring they are only to be seen in pairs,
and at this period it is easy to note the locality for the
nest. One nest was found with young in it, in a wood
near Orlestone, on April 30, 1903, and another on May
8, 1906, near Orlestone. It was fixed in a white-thorn
bush about five feet from the ground, and of the usual
type, of green moss covered with small flakes of white
lichen. It is a moderately common resident at Stour-
mouth, but not all the winter, G. Dowker. It has been
observed in all the following localities : Nonington, W.
0. Hammond ; Dover, C. Gordon, G. Gray and Dr.
Plomley ; Folkestone, H. Ullyett ; Elmstone, Kev. W.
B. Delmar ; Walmer, Rev. B. Austen ; Higham and
Mailing valley, Eev. C. H. Fielding ; Maidstone, I have
noticed small flocks often in winter, H. Lamb ; Bethers-
den. Captain J. D. Cameron.

From October 11, 1905, many small flocks were noted
in Eomney Marsh below Euckinge and the Eoyal
Military Canal throughout the winter.

Genus PARUS, Linnsens.

GEEAT TITMOUSE.

Panis major, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 341 (1766).
Ox-eye and Joe Ben.

Although the Great Titmouse is generally distributed
over the county of Kent and a resident, it is nowhere
found in numbers, being rather, if anything, a solitary
bird, or only found in pairs during the breeding season.

GEEAT TITMOUSE 97

This Titmouse is a great mimic, and many persons
have mistaken its voice for other birds. An instance is
recorded of one observed at Boxley, in Kent, which was
heard to imitate the alarm-note of the Flycatcher ;
another is given by Captain H. W. Hadfield in the
Zoologist, 1857, of it imitating a Woodpecker or Nuthatch
on the branch of a tree ; he says : " When walking this
afternoon (January 1, 1857) in Summerhill Park, Ton-
bridge, my son directed my attention to a sharp tapping
sound proceeding apparently from one of the lofty oaks
with which this beautiful domain abounds, and on going
with cautious steps to the foot of one of them, I per-
ceived, not a Woodpecker or a Nuthatch, as I had at
first imagined it might be, but a Tomtit, clinging to one
of the topmost branches, whether hollow or not I had
no means of ascertaining, but, judging from the loud
vibrating sounds, I should conclude it was. That the
little creature was endeavouring, after the manner of the
Woodpecker, to rouse and bring to the surface its insect
food, there can, I think, be little reason to doubt ; but
that so diminutive a bird, or, rather, one with so small a
bill, should have the power of making so far-sounding
a noise is, I think, somewhat remarkable."

It nests more frequently in very old timbered woods,
especially in old pollard willow stumps, and in many
cases the nest is not easy to procure.

The subjoined strange particulars respecting a supposed
nest of this bird appeared in the Zoologist, 1870, and
will be read, no doubt, cum grano sails : —

Bird's Nest in Solid Wood. — "A curious discovery has

recently been made at Chislehurst, in Kent. A large

elm tree in the churchyard was cut down, and a bird's

nest with seven eggs was found completely embedded,

7

98 THE BIRDS OF KENT

and having at least nine inches of sohd wood grown over
it, without any trace of an outlet. The eggs are as
perfect as when first laid, and are supposed to be those
of the Great Titmouse {Pants major).'' — J. E. Anderson,
April 22, 1870.

The Great Tit is contained in Boys' Birds of Sandwich,
1792. It is plentiful round Maidstone, and breeds on
Boxley Hills, H. Lamb ; and is found in the districts of
Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron ; Orlestone, R. T.
Filmer ; Mailing Valley, Rev. C. H. Fielding. A common
resident at Stourmouth, G. Dowker. In Pennant's
British Zoology, 1812, it is mentioned that " Mr. Lewin
records the circumstance of one having been killed at
Faversham, which had both mandibles singularly elon-
gated or crossed in the manner of the Crossbill."

BRITISH COAL TITMOUSE.

Parus hritannicus^ Sharpe and Dresser. Ann. and
Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), viii., p. 437 (1871).

The British Coal Titmouse is a resident in Kent, but
by no means abundant anywhere. They may be seen
more often in the autumn, winter and spring, when
searching for food, in nearly all the wooded districts in
the county, especially among the old pine and oak trees.

In the Orlestone district it is scarce. On March 12,
1902, it was obtained in Burnt Oak "Wood, and also on
March 13 it was found in Clerksland Wood, again on
April 17 ; and on October 28, 1905, it was also seen near
Mersham, at Bilsington, and in the woods near Ruckinge.

The general distribution in Kent may be culled from
the following observers : Bethersden, Captain J. D.

MAESH-TITMOUSE 99

Cameron. It is not uncommon in the old fir trees at
Thornhills, near Maidstone, and in the yews on Boxley
Hills. It was always to be found in the large fir trees at
Mereworth, and in Broadwater forest, near Tunbridge
Wells. The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornith-
ology of Kent, 1844, states it is "not common," and Mr.
G. Dowker says it is a " moderately common resident at
Stourmouth." It is also included in the Birds of the
Mailing Valley, by the Kev. C. H. Fielding.

In his British Birds' Eggs, 1886, Dr. A. G. Butler
says : " I have received the nest of this species from Kent
as late as the beginning of June, it was taken out of a
decayed fruit tree, the heart of which it occupied, and
was at no great distance from the ground."

MAESH-TITMOUSE.

Parus imlustris, Linnaeus. H.N., i., p. 341 (176G).

The Marsh-Titmouse is more numerous as a species
than either of the former, viz., the Great Titmouse and
Coal Titmouse, and less plentiful than the Blue Titmouse,
next to be mentioned.

Although the name Marsh-Titmouse has been applied
to this species, it is more often found in the smaller
woods of Kent than in the low-lying country. It has
been obtained more commonly in all the wooded districts
from Ashford to Orlestone and Kuckinge, and the hillsides
overlooking Romney Marsh. These woods are cut down
every few years, and the Marsh-Tit makes a home of the
smaller growth, which at the end of two of three years
forms a thick mass in which these small birds can conceal
themselves.

100 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The Kev. J. Peiiiberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Kent, says it is "common." It has l)een obtained at
Boxley, generally at the foot of the hills, but is not
plentiful there, and it was seen in Mr. Lushington's
woods in March, 1868. It is rare in the Stourmouth
district, according to Mr. G. Dowker, and is noted by the
Kev. C. H. Fielding in the Birds of the Mailing Valley,
and at Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron.

The Marsh-Tit is among the Birds Observed at Rain-
ham (1865), by Mr. W. H. Power, who says : " I noticed
several of these Tits during September. This species is
far more common than the Coal Tit, and next to the Blue
Tit is the most common of our local ParidcB."

While insect-collecting in Mereworth Walk, a Marsh-
Tit was seen to come out from under a bank which the
heather overhung and had almost hidden. On careful
examination a beautiful nest of this bird was found
formed of moss and lined with feathers, fixed in the old
roots of the heather in the bank ; it contained six eggs.

BLUE TITMOUSE.

Parus ccenileus, Linnteiis. >S'.A^., i., p. 341 (1766).

Tomtit.

The Blue Tit is one of the best known and most
familiar of our Titmice, and the onl}^ one which makes
itself at home around the habitation of man. It is
plentifully distributed all over the county, not only in the
woods, but hedgerows and gardens, and it will take long
flights to isolated trees in search of food, and its lively,
mouse-like habits are always amusing. In severe weather
they will often come down and snatch a morsel of soft
food thrown out to the fowls and other birds.

BLUE TITMOUSE 101

On October 24, 1905, the Blue Tit was first observed
feeding in the tall reeds of a sewer on the roadside, not
far from Brenzett, which attracted attention on account
of the strange position, away from all the wooded country.
Again, on November 8 one was seen in the reeds not far
from Snave. On the night of November 15 snow fell,
and on the morning of the 16th several Blue Tits were
noticed feeding" close down to the water's edge among
the reeds in a large sewer on the road to Newchurch ; and
on the 17th they were still in the same reed-bed, evi-
dently searching for larvfB, or minute insects which climb
the reed-stems. In these places they continued all
through the winter.

Mr. C. A. Witchell, of Eltham, Kent, gives an interest-
ing account of the variation of habits in the Blue Tit, in
the Zoologist, 1896, as follows : " Early in February last,
near New Eltham, and about 8 a.m., I noticed two Blue
Tits {Parus ccEruleus) flying from tree to tree along the
road in the direction of my walk. The leading bird,
which appeared to be a male, frequently uttered call-
notes ; the other, which I presumed to be a female, was
comparatively silent. The leading bird, after flying for
a Httle distance in the usual jerky manner of the species,
would suddenly extend his wings and hold them motion-
less, so that he might be said to soar along, in which
position the upward curving of the long feathers was
clearly visible. Sometimes he travelled in this way for
only a few feet, sometimes for as much as 10 yards.
Once when he was sailing along a male House- Sparrow
flew at him and made three or four attempts to peck him
in the air ; but the Tit with much agility avoided the
attack, and he then perched in a chestnut tree, closely
followed by the Sparrow ; but the latter, though not

102 THE BIRDS OF KENT

more than a foot distant from the Tit, took no further-
notice of him. On the following morning, near the same
place, I saw two Blue Tits, and one of them came from a
position about half-way up an elm tree, and descended in
a graceful swoop, on motionless wings, to a lamp-post on
the other side of the road. On no other occasion have
I seen any Titmouse exhibit this peculiar gliding flight,
which in this case was presumably intended for the pur-
pose of display ; but if such behaviour is likely to incite
the attacks of other species, it probably will never become
prevalent in the Tit. It is, of course, with some other
birds habitual." Continuing his remarks in the Zoologist,
1897, he says : " In the Zoologist for 1896 I recorded the
unusual habit of a Blue Tit in soaring on motionless
wings from perch to perch. I afterwards saw this bird
often, and this year (1897) it exhibited exactly the same
behaviour. On one occasion it rose from the top of an
oak, and then sailed along, in the manner of a Tree-Pipit,
to the top of a lower tree. The best ' sail ' it executed
was when passing over a road to the lamp-post in which
its nest was afterwards built ; it was going against the
wind, and seemed to creep along the air in a charmmg
manner, and was closely followed by another Tit, to
which it had been addressing ardent call-notes. The
Blue Tits here nest in the lamp-posts. The lamplighters
tell me they all rear their young, and I lately heard the
cry of a young one from the top of a lamp-post, and
several others, just able to fly, were around the spot. An
old Tit occupies about a minute in descending and re-
ascending a lamp-post, and probably it proceeds by
rapidly hopping from side to side ; there is not enough
space for the spreading of its wings."

This summer, 1906, a pair of Blue Tits took possession

NUTHATCH 103

of a narrow crevice which was just between the front wall
and the chimney stack of a cottage at Ruckinge. This
crevice passed in close to the fire-place, about 4 feet from
the ground, so that they would receive the warmth from
the stove. In this same crevice they reared two broods.
Nothing larger than themselves could get in, and no one
could touch the nest without pulling out the brickwork.

CEESTED TITMOUSE.

Pariis cristatus, Linn^us. S.N., i., p. 340 (1766).

The first notice of this bird in Kent is to be found in
Mr. J. E. Harting's Birds of Middlesex, 1866, who says :
" One shot a few years ago at Blackheath, by Mr. Engle-
heart, in his garden ; this is the only instance that has
come to my knowledge of the Crested Tit having been
found so far south in England." In his Handbook, 1872,
this bird is again mentioned under Blackheath, Kent,'
but it is omitted from his last edition of that work (1901).

The only other reference to the Crested Tit in Kent
is that given by Mr. G. Dowker in his Birds of East
Kent, 1889, in which he mentions one in the Canterbury
Museum, apparently obtained from the neighbourhood.

Family SITTID^.

Genus SITTA, LiniicTeus.

NUTHATCH.

^^itta ccBsia, Wolf. Taschenh. deutsch. Vog., i., p.
128 (1810).

The Nuthatch is not plentiful, although generally dis-
tributed over the whole of Kent in suitable situations.
This bird restricts its haunts to the larger and older

104 THE BIRDS OF KENT

forests, woods and orchards, and in such places it may
be found nearly always in pairs, never, or very rarely,
taking to the more open districts. It used to nest in the
large trees in Mereworth Walk, and it has been observed
in Broadwater Forest, near Tunbridge Wells. According
to Mr. H. Lamb, it is found in the old orchards near
Maidstone, and Mr. H. Elgar obtained specimens at
West Farleigh. Captain J. D. Cameron adds it to the
birds of Bethersden, and the Rev. C. H. Fielding includes
it among the resident birds of the Mailing Valley. In
the Orlestone district it is rare, according to Mr. R.
T. Filmer. It usually visits the cherry orchards at Ham
Street during the winter. A pair have nested in a wild
cherry-tree in Bourne Wood for several years.

The following notes are taken from the Zoologist, 1857,
written by Captain H. W. Hadfield, of Tonbridge :
April 8, 1857. " Descried a female Kuthatch in a lofty
oak tree ; it was seemingly engaged in enlarging a hole,
or opening, in one of the branches, possibly with a view
to constructing a nest, for so intent was it upon the
work, that it allowed me not only to approach the tree,
but to explode two or three percussion caps before I
could discharge the gun, and when it did take wing I
was not long in discovering it again, being attracted to
the spot by the loud tapping sound it made with its bill,
which might probably have been heard at the distance
of fifty yards or more. April 9 : I observed two Nut-
hatches fly across the road and alight suddenly on some
high trees ; I followed them up, and shot one, which
proved to be a handsome male bird ; subsequently shoot-
ing the female. The male, although a stouter and
heavier bird than the female, does not much exceed it
in length, although the bill is stronger and about a tenth

WREN 105

of an inch longer; the plumage, however, is far more
brilliant, the sides and feathers beneath the wing, as
well as the under tail-coverts, being of a bright chestnut
or reddish-brown, whereas in the female these parts are
much paler, indeed, many shades lighter."

Captain Boyd Alexander, in his Notes on the Birds of
Kent {Zoologist, 1896), remarks : " Compared with former
years, the Nuthatches bred this season very sparingly.
On the other hand, in the Tunbridge Wells district a
wonderful increase took place in their numbers. After
the autumn moult the plumage of the male Nuthatch
is remarkably handsome, the breast being a most deli-
cate apricot, while the slate-blue of the upper parts is
very intense in colouring. Just now these birds are
extremely restless ; most of their time is taken up in
putting by a winter store of food, and this especially
consists of hazel-nuts, which are plentiful this year."

Family TROGLODYTID^.

Genus TROGLODYTES, Yieillot.

WEEN.

Troglodytes iKirndus^ Koch. Hyst. d. haier.
Zool, p. IGl (1816).

This very active and interesting little bird is abundant
throughout the county of Kent. In early spring and
winter its voice may be heard, except during a short
period of its nesting season. It has been heard singing
on December 11, near Maidstone, and in the neighbour-
hood of Orlestone on fine, sunny days in mid-winter.
Its habit of keeping to the old overgrown hedges and

106 THE BIRDS OF KENT

thickets is a great protection, and in such places it may
be seen searching, niouse-Hke, for its insect food.

In some instances the nests are very difficult to find,
and in others they are most conspicuous. A nest was
found on the wood-side at Kuckinge, built in a stunted
elm bush on a level with the face of the passers-by, in
fact, one could look into the hole of it and see the eggs ;
another was close down to the ground among a lot of
rubbish and leaves, and if it had not been for the bird
flying out it might have been passed over and over again.
A nest was found by Mr. H. Lamb, in 1875, not far from
Maidstone ; it was placed in the top of an arch on the
South-Eastern Bailway, within a foot of the rails, but the
birds, after completing the nest, deserted it.

Family MOTACILLTD^.

Genus MOTACILLA, Linnaeus.
WHITE WAGTAIL.

Motacilla alba, Linnaeus. ^S'.A^., \i., p. 331 (1766).

The AVhite Wagtail, although frequently met with
along the coast of Kent during the summer and autumn,
is not so abundant as the Pied Wagtail, and no doubt
it is often overlooked.

Dr. F. Plomley, writing to the Zoologist in 1846, says :
" My attention having been drawn, since the publication
of Mr. Yarrell's Supplement, to the White Wagtail {Mota-
cilla alba), I find they are very common in this part of
of Kent (Lydd), as I seldom pass a day without seeing
several pairs, though I have not yet been able to get
their eggs."

PIED WAGTAIL 107

There is no doubt that the nest and eggs of the two
Pied Wagtails are so aHke that it requires careful observa-
tion of the adult birds to identify the eggs.

PIED WAGTAIL.

Motacilla lugiihris, Teinminck. Mcui. cVOrn., i.,
p. 253 (1820).

Dishwasher, Peggy Dishwasher ;
White Water Wagtail, Boys, 1792.

The Pied Wagtail is one of the most abundant of the
several species of Wagtails throughout the county, and
it may be seen generally in pairs near all our large lakes,
ponds, ditches, and country roads in the vicinity of
water.

The curious nesting habits of this bird are very variable,
and it is uncertain where the nest is to be found, for
many are placed in the least likely situations one would
look for it. One was found in the ivy on the front of
a house close to a window overlooking the lawn, a long
way from any water.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on this species at
Dungeness, says it is " common near the fishermen's
or coastguards' cottages and farm buildings. Eather
a favourite nesting place for them was amongst the
stacks of fish-boxes near the coast."

A nest was found by Mr. H. Lamb in a heap of stones
at Barming.

This Wagtail, unlike its near ally the White Wagtail,
is distributed far inland, and not confined to the sea-
coast, or the large rivers.

108 THE BIRDS OF KENT

GKEY WAGTAIL.

Motacilla melanope, Pallas.
JReise Buss. BiecJis., iii., p. 69G (1776).

Grey Water Wagtail, Boys, 179-2.

From the particulars which have been collected respect-
ing the Grey Wagtail in Kent, it will be seen that this
species is far more plentiful than at first supposed, and
it may be considered as a permanent resident. Through-
out the districts visited a pair or an odd bird has been
observed in every month of the year.

In 1844, the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states that
it is " common."

Mr. Yarrell in his British Birds, 1843-56, states that
" in the counties around London the Grey AVagtail is
a winter visitor, but Mr. E. Blyth has recorded that he
once observed a pair of them upon Penge Common in
Kent at the end of May, that evidently had a nest in
the neighbourhood, though he was unsuccessful in his
repeated endeavour to find it."

In 1865 Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at
Bainliam, says the Grey Wagtail " appears on the marshes
early in the autumn on its migration southwards. The
first note I have of its appearance this year (1865) is
on September 7. It does not stay in any numbers, more
often paying only a flying visit." And Mr. F. D. Power
" observed it on the Kainham Marshes on September 8,
1868."

Lord Clifton, in writing to the Zoologist, 1869, remarks :
" Mr. Power, in the Zoologist for January, says that
the Grey Wagtail appeared on the Eainham Marshes on

GREY WAGTAIL 109

September 8 ; on that very day I saw one at Cobham,
the only one I ever saw there."

The Grey Wagtail is, according to Mr. D. T. Button,
" common all the winter, from November to March, in the
watercress-beds at Springhead, near Gravesend ; I have
obtained many fine examples from there." On August 6,
1877, Mr. H. Lamb met with this species on the cricket
ground at Yalding ; and in the winter of 1878, in Novem-
ber and December, he again found it in the Loose Valley,
near Maidstone. In the winter of 1878-79, specimens
were obtained in Clare Park, East Mailing, Kent. A
male in the Maidstone Museum was obtained at Holling-
bourne in January, 1881. Several were seen by Mr. H.
Elgar between Aylesford and Snodland on November 15,
1893, and one at Aylesford on September 22, 1894.

Dr. A. G. Butler, in his British Birds' Eggs, 1886,
says : " The fact of its occurrence in Kent, though already
recorded, is confirmed by a nest which I obtained at
Kemsley, in Kent, on May 16, 1885 ; it was built on the
ground behind a clod of earth in a fallow field, and was
discovered by a boy whilst ploughing ; this boy took me
to the spot, and the bird flew off the nest as we ap-
proached. The nest is formed of root fibre mixed with
coarse grasses, cow- and horse-hair, and is lined with
black horse-hair, white cow-hair and wool ; it originally
contained four eggs of the ordinary type, but one was
broken by the fall of a piece of earth into the nest as
it was being removed ; they are slightly larger than the
eggs of the Pied Wagtail, and are rather closely mottled
with pale yellowish-brown, which gives them a stone-grey
tint."

On July 24, 1906, Mr. Bartlett found many Grey Wag-
tails in the large sewers and Royal Military Canal
between Dymchurch and New Romney

110 THE BIRDS OF KENT

BLUE-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL.

Motacilla flava, Linnteus. S.N., i., p. 331 (1766).

This species is certainly rare compared with the other
Wagtails, and it is not so generally distributed in Kent,
being restricted in its habits to the seaboard and large
salt-marshes.

Morris, in his British Birds, mentions a pair that were
shot at Dover, near the harbour, in July, 1851. According
to Professor Newton, in Yarrell's British Birds, " they
have generally occurred on or near the coast of the south-
western, southern, or eastern counties, Kent, &c., mostly
in the months of April, May, or June, and several times
in pairs."

Dr. A. G. Butler " obtained the nest and eggs of this
species from the saltings by the creek at Kemsley, near
Sheppey, in Kent, in the early part of June, 1885. The
bird was known to the boys by the popular name of
' Whip Jack.' The nest is slighter than those of the
three other species which I obtained at Kemsley in May ;
it is formed of fine fibrous roots and coarse grasses, and
is thickly lined with black horse-hair. It contains six
eggs of a pale yellowish-brown colour, rather yellower
than those of the Yellow Wagtail {M. raii), and not
unlike some eggs of the Sedge-Warbler, excepting that
they are slightly larger and have a more polished surface.
I may mention that I have seen this species of Wagtail
within a mile or two of Kemsley, and at the same time of
year."

YELLOW WAGTAIL 111

GEEY-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL.

MotaciUa viridis (Gmelin). S.N., I, p. 96'2 (1788).

Mr. G. Dowker, iu his Birds of East Kent, states that
" Mr. W. Oxen den Hammond writes to me, May 1, 1889,
that the Grey-headed Wagtail has just been killed
between Deal and Dover, by striking itself against the
telegraph wires."

Under the name of Grey-headed Wagtails {MotaciUa
horealis), a pair, with their nest, were taken by Mr.
Bristow, of St. Leonards-on-Sea, from the marsh between
Rye and Lydd on June 20, 1906, probably the first
recorded instance of the breeding of this bird in Great
Britain {Bulletin of the B.O.C., vol. xix., p. 23, 1906).

YELLOW WAGTAIL.

MotaciUa rail (Bonaparte). Comp. List B. Eur.
and N. Am., p. 18 (1838).

Yellow Water Wagtail, Boys, 1792 ;
Yellow Dishwasher.

The Yellow Wagtail, or, more properly speaking. Bay's
Wagtail, to distinguish it from the other more or less
yellow species, is one of our most familiar birds, next to
the Pied Wagtail.

This species is not confined to the sea-coast, but finds
its way far inland to breed, and is thoroughly distributed
over the whole of Kent during the summer, especially
near large lakes, ponds and streams. It is very pretty to
see a pair of these canary-coloured birds running about
and feeding on the road, and they may be seen acting the
Flycatcher, by darting up in the air for a fly. Among

112 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the birds of Rainham, Mr. F. D. Power tells us the
Yellow Wagtail is "numerous up to the middle of Sep-
tember on the marshes, they then rapidly become scarce :
last seen on October 6, 1868." It used to breed in the
Lower Eainham marshes. Mr. H. Lamb says that he
often saw it near Maidstone in the summer, and in the
summer of 1877 one was hovering about some clover tops.
Mr. E. Bartlett also obtained this species at Maidstone,
May 12, 1888, and Mr. H. Kennard procured it on
August 16, 1888. The nest and eggs were obtained by
the Rev. H. Watson, at Boughton Malberbe, in June,
1889. Dr. R. B. Sharpe procured specimens in May,
August and September at Plumstead, and in May, July,
August and September in Romney Marsh. Captain J.
D. Cameron includes it in his birds of Bethersden, and
it is a summer resident in the Mailing Valley, according
to the Rev. C. H. Fielding.

Dr. A. G. Butler says : " A nest of this bird w^as brought
to me on May 16, 1885, found at Kemsley, in Kent, in
the bank of a pit, partly filled with water, amongst rank
herbage. This Yellow Wagtail is by no means an un-
common species in the neighbourhood of Sheppey ; I have
seen it every year, either in the brickfields of Murston
or Kemsley." Mr. S. A. Davies, in his Ornithological
Notes from East Kent, adds : " On September 29 (1895)
there were vast numbers of Yellow Wagtails, with a fair
admixture of Pied Wagtails, all along the shore in the
direction of Deal." In Captain Boyd Alexander's orni-
thological notes from Rye he states that on "August
27, 1896, light north-westerly wind. The Yellow Wag-
tails are edging eastwards. Towards evening large
numbers had concentrated around Dungeness, prior, no
doubt, to crossing the Channel." In his notes on the

MEADOW-PIPIT 113

birds on the beacli at Dungeness, 1900, Mr. T. Hepburn
found the Yellow Wagtail " a common bird on the
marshland. May 10 : Found a nest in an empty iron
shell-case with a full clutch of fresh eggs in it. July 16
to 21 : Plenty of these birds still about."

In the report on the immigration of summer residents
in the Bulletin of the B.O.C. for the spring of 1905, the
arrival of the Yellow Wagtail in Kent is April 21.

Genus ANTHUS, Bechstein.

MEADOW-PIPIT.

AntJius jn-atensis (Linnaeus). S.N., l, p. 287 (1766).
Less Field Lark, Boys, 1792 ; Titlark.

The Meadow Pipit, commonly called the Titlark, is
usually found in small flocks in the autumn and winter
throughout the county, separating into pairs in the
spring for the breeding season. They prefer low-lying
meadows and open commons, and are very abundant in
the marshes along the Thames and Medway. In the
Orlestone district Mr. R. T. Filmer says they seem to
delight in sitting on the telegraph wires along the railway
cutting, and building their nests on the grassy slopes.
In the pastures of Romney Marsh they may be found all
the year round.

On the beach at Dungeness, in 1900, Mr. T. Hepburn
states that it is " about the commonest bird on the beach
and surrounding land, laying wherever there is a ' tot '
of grass big enough for it to make its nest in. May
10 to 14 : Found nests with eggs in all stages of incuba-
tion, and with young birds already fairly well fledged."
8

114 THE BIRDS OF KENT

In the neighbourhood of New Romney and Littlestone
Mr. E. F. M. Ehnes says : "In the first clump of coarse
grass that I came to on Great Stone Point I found a nest
containing four newly hatched Meadow-Pipits. A nest
of four eggs, well concealed in a dense tuft of coarse
grass. My attention was drawn to it by the grasses
being parted from one another, the result of the parent
birds' continual ingress and egress to and from the nest
itself."

EED-THROATED PIPIT.

Anthus cer villus (Pallas). Zoogr. Bosso-As., i.,
p. 511 (1811).

The only recorded specimen of this species is the one
obtained at Rainham by the late Mr. Walter Prentis,
who wrote to the Zoologist in 1884 as follows : —

Bed-throated Pipit in Kent. — " Having read Mr, J. H.
Gurney's note (p. 192) on the occurrence of the Red-
throated Pipit, Anthus cervinns, at Brighton, I have
pleasure in sending you word of another specimen
answering the description, which I obtained here (Rain-
ham) in the month of April, 1880. I shot the bird
myself, one fine day, while it was feeding and singing
along the fresh turned-up furrows behind my plough, and
not identifying it, sent it to Dover to be preserved for a
bright example of the Meadow Pipit."

This specimen was eventually identified at the British
Museum by Dr. R. B. Sharpe.

TREE-PIPIT 115

TEEE-PIPIT.

Ayithus triviaUs (Linnseus). /S'.iV., i., p. 288 (1766).
Titlark, Boys, 1792.

The Tree-Pipit is not a common species in Kent.
Soon after its arrival in the spring it becomes sparingly
distributed, generally selecting most of the railway
cuttings and steep grassy banks and hillsides for its
breeding grounds. In these situations it may be seen,
and heard, rising in the air, and floating down again with
upraised wings, singing as it descends.

In some seasons, Mr. E. T. Filmer writes, it is quite
common about the railway at Orlestone, and in others
quite the reverse, especially during 1904-6 very few had
been seen.

On April 17, 1902, the first Tree-Pipit was seen at
Orlestone, and one was obtained on April 23. According
to the Kev. C. H. Fielding it is a summer resident in the
Mailing valley and at Higham. It is included in the
birds of Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron, and Mr.
H. Lamb says it is plentiful near Maidstone during the
breeding season, where Mr. E. Bartlett found it breeding.
In his Birds of Bainham Mr. W. Prentis says: "The
Tree-Pipit is one of our summer arrivals ; comes in Mid-
April, frequents trees in the low coppices ; whence circling
upwards and returning to the same perch, sings in the air
most sweet and delightful notes. When making hay near
the woods the Tree-Pipit flies from heap to heap, keeping
the haymakers company, singing all the while its pleasing
song."

In the report on the immigration of summer residents
in the spring of 1905, published in the Bulletin of the
B.O.C., the first Tree-Pipit arrived in Kent on April 13.

116 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. E. T. Filmer relates rather a curious instance of
the intelHgence of the Tree-Pipit. One day while sitting
down to rest on the bank in the railway cutting, a Tree-
Pipit flew across the line from the opposite side, and
hopped on to his boot, and appeared in distress ; it then
flew back again to its nest. Thinking this was somewhat
strange, he crossed over, and found a Common Snake
devouring one of the newly hatched Pipits; it had already
eaten one, leaving only two young ones in the nest. He
dispatched the snake, to the relief of the Tree-Pipit.

EICHAED'S PIPIT.

Anthus richardi, Vieillot. Noiiv. Diet. cVHist.
Nat., xxvi., p. 491 (1818).

In his Ornithology of Kent, in the Zoologist, 1844, the
Rev. J. Pemberton-Bartlett states that it "has been shot
in Kent," but he does not give a single instance.

Eichard's Pipit may be considered an occasional visitor
to the county, and few records of its occurrence are to
hand.

Mr. Charles Gordon, of Dover, writing to the Zoologist,
1868, says: "On October 21 (1868) I shot a most superb
specimen of Eichard's Pipit {Anthus richardi) in a corn-
field in the environs of Dover. It attracted my attention
by its loud call. This specimen is in good condition,
having just completed its moult. Its length is 7| inches,
and its weight 1|- ounces. On dissection the bird proved
to be a male."

Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond, of Wingham, in Kent,
states: "I obtained a specimen of Eichard's Pipit about
the middle of November last (1889). It was caught by

EOCK PIPIT 117

a bird-catcher near Dover, but in pulling the net over,
one of the rods struck and killed the bird." There are
three specimens in the Canterbury Museum, all labelled
Dover, without any further details.

EOCK-PIPIT.

Antlius ohscurus (Latham). Ind. Orn., ii., p. 494

(1790).

Shore Lark, Dusky Lark.

In the fourth edition of Yarrell's British Birds Pro-
fessor Newton says : " Latham had priority in publishing
a scientific name for this species. He says he saw it first
in the Leman Collection, but the example he describes
was obtained from Lewin, who found it in the Kentish
marshes and himself figured the species as the Dusky
Lark in the following year (1791)."

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Kent, 1844, calls this bird the Shore Lark {Anthus
aquaticus), and states that it is " not common."

Among the Birds Observed at Bainham, by Mr. W.
H. Power, he includes the Rock-Pipit, which he says
" appeared this season on October 7, 1865. It is a con-
stant winter visitant, and although inferior in numbers
to the Meadow Pipit, is yet tolerably common." And
Mr. F. D. Power adds : " September 24, 1868 : One seen.
Numerous on the saltings by October 2. A common
species here in winter." This is also confirmed by Mr.
W. Prentis in his Birds of Bainham, 1894.

118 THE BIRDS OF KENT

VINOUS PIPIT.

Anthus rupestris, Nilsson. Orn. Suec, i., p. 245,
t. 9 (1817).

Professor Newton, in the fourth edition of Yarrell's
British Birds, unites this bird with the ,Rock-Pipit ; at
the same time he says " that examples generally present
a rufous or vinous colouring on the breast, inducing
some ornithologists to regard them as forming a distinct
species. From either of the species last mentioned
{Anthus pratensis and A. spipoletta) A. rupestris can
be readily distinguished by having the patches at the
end of its outer tail-feathers not white, but pale greyish-
brown, just as in our own Rock-Pipit."

The only reference to the occurrence of this supposed
species in Kent is contained in the Birds of Bainham,
1894, by Mr. W. Prentis, who writes : " I once had the
pleasure of meeting with the Vinous Pipit {Anthus
rupestris) one rough March, the wind blowing for several
days from the east. The marsh was fall of Rock-Pipits.
I observed a strange-looking variety with a reddish-brown
breast, sitting upon a barway ; its note, on being
disturbed, was very different from the Rock-Pipit's."

Family ORIOLID^.

Genus ORIOLUS, Liniiceus.

GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Oriolus galbula, Linuceus. S.N., i., p. IGO (1766).

The Golden Oriole is almost an annual visitor to the
county of Kent, and subjoined is a full account of all,
as far as possible, of those that have come under the

GOLDEN ORIOLE 119

observations of ornithologists. The attention of natura-
lists was drawn for the first time to this beautiful bird
in Kent by the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett in his
Ornithology of Kent, published in the Zoologist, 1844,
who stated that "one of these brilliant birds was shot
at Sandwich." Upon seeing this Mr. E. H. M. Sladen
wrote to the Zoologist, 1844, as follows : —

"You solicit notes of the occurrence of rarieties in
Britain. I heard of the specimen of the Golden Oriole
recorded by Mr. Bartlett as shot at Sandwich, and last
year I rescued another from the dust of a cottage shelf
in the village of Ripple, near Walmer. It had been
given to a child by a gentleman's servant, but I was
unable to trace its history any further, in consequence
of the servant having accompanied his master into
Scotland. The plumage was much soiled, but on being
placed in the hands of Mr. Leadbeater and cleaned the
bird turned out a fine male specimen, I allude par-
ticularly to this bird from having been told by a friend
in Kent, who gave me the authority of the Curator of
the Museum, Dover, for his statement, that the Golden
Oriole had a nest in the same neighbourhood (the Oxney
plantation, by Kingsdown) two or three seasons ago.
I have not had an opportunity of making enquiries, but
perhaps some Kentish ornithologist may be able to
furnish information on the subject."

0?i the Nesting of the Golde?i Oriole in Kent. — " Having
made enquiries about the nidification of the Oriolus
galbula in East Kent, mentioned by Mr. Sladen {Zoolo-
gist, 1844, 762), I am enabled to send the following notice
of the occurrence, which may prove interesting to some
of the readers of the Zoologist. In the month of June,
1836, a nest built by a pair of these beautiful birds was

120 THE BIRDS OF KENT

discovered in an ash plantation near the vihage of Ord.
The nest, which consisted of fibrous roots, was attached
to two upright stems of ash, around which the fibres
were carefully twisted. The entire structure, however,
was so thin that when discovered the young birds could
be seen through the bottom of the nest. The young
ones were taken every care of, but did not long survive
their captivity. In the summer of 1834 several young
Orioles were shot in the neighbourhood ; occasional
visitors had been seen in that locality for some years
previously. The Golden Oriole is common in several
parts of Europe, and particularly in France, from whence
I imagine those come which visit Kent. They are, I
believe, supposed to pass the winter in Africa. The
female is extremely attentive to her young, fearing no
enemy in their defence, and permitting herself to be
taken in the nest with them. In those countries where
they regularly breed the nest of the Oriole is generally
suspended from the bough of a tree, and not fixed
between upright boughs, as in the case above described."
— J. Pemberton Bartlett, Kingston, near Canterbury,
December, 1844 {Zoologist, 1845, p. 825).

In the Zoologist, 1849, Mr. J. B. EUman states that
"two specimens, male and female, of this rare and
beautiful bird were obtained near Elmstone last week
(May), together with their nest (of very rare occurrence
in this country), which was suspended from the extreme
end of the top branch of an oak tree, and composed
entirely of wool carefully bound with dried grass ; it
contained three eggs of a pure white mottled with black.
The note of the male bird precisely resembles the whist-
ling of the common parrot, and is very powerful."

Occurrence of the Golden Oriole at Elmstone. — "I send

GOLDEN ORIOLE 121

you the following extract from a letter of my friend, Mr.
C. A. Delmar, who has been fortunate enough to shoot
a Golden Oriole. He says : ' I heard of its arrival from
my brother, who resides at Elmstone ; he wrote to me
on June 6, asking me to come over to shoot a Golden
Oriole, which he had seen and heard in the very same
spot where a male and a female Golden Oriole, with their
nest and eggs, were taken last year about this time. I
had the good luck to shoot this bird on the 6th, and on
comparing it with the others we are of opinion it is a
female ; the colour of the plumage is not very bright,
and resembles the female taken last year. I have stuffed
it, and it is now in the possession of my brother, with
the birds shot last year. "We looked the place well over
and found only this bird, and my brother has been to the
spot every day since, but has not seen or heard another.
A very beautiful male Golden Oriole was shot at Lydd,
in the latter part of May last, by a farmer who saw it
settle on his window ; a female w^as also seen, but she
escaped. Before hearing of the Golden Oriole from my
brother at Elmstone, I saw in the marshes on my way
to Word a Golden Oriole fly from a thick bush to a bush
a short distance off; at last it flew away in the direction
of Word, and I was not able to find it again." — J. W.
Hulke, Deal, June 17, 1850 {Zoologist, 1850, p. 2851).

There are specimens in the Canterbury Museum from
Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's collection from Elmstone
in Kent.

Golden Oriole Nesting near Deal. — " A few days since,
when at Sandwich, a person there who partly gains bis
living by bird-stufting, told me that ten years ago the
Golden Oriole bred in Word Wood (a small wood on the
border of the marshes, very boggy in winter, w^ith very

122 THE BIRDS OF KENT

luxuriant carices and tall herbage) ; that he saw an old
one, but would not shoot it, hoping to find the nest, for
which he ineffectually searched. On making a second
visit to the spot a few days after he was told by a country-
man that he had found a nest with young ones, which
he had given to his ferrets ; and from the description of
the nest he had no doubt it was that of the Golden
Oriole." — J. W. Hulke, Deal, January 8, 1851 [Zoologist,
1851, p. 3034).

Occurrence of the Golden Oriole [Oriolus galhula) at
EWiam. — "A beautiful example of the Golden Oriole
was shot on the 14th of this month (June, 1853), at
Eltham, in Kent, by Mr. Joiner, of Crown Manor Cottage,
Eltham, and is now in my possession. Colour of bill
dark red ; head and back yellow ; tail-coverts rich j'ellow ;
throat and breast yellowish-white ; tail yellowish-black,
tipped with rich yellow. Length, 10 inches." — James
Bramley, June 19, 1853 {Zoologist, 1853, p. 4014).

A specimen in the Maidstone Museum was shot at
Weavering Street near the above town, about 1866, and
was presented by the owner, Mr. A. T. Killick, June 6,
1896.

Golden Oriole near Faversham. — " A. female specimen
of the Golden Oriole was shot in an orchard near
Faversham early in the autumn (1868). The man who
shot it stated that it was in company with another bird
of the same species." — John Hunter {Zoologist, 1869,
p. 1513).

Mr. Edwin Ward wrote to the Zoologist, 1869, as
follows: "There was shot, on June 2, 1869, by Mr.
Wiggins, keeper, Southfield Park, Tunbridge Wells, a
fine female Golden Oriole {Oriolus galhula). On ex-
amination I found the bird must have had a nest of eggs
or voung ones at the time it was killed."

GOLDEN ORIOLE 123

Mr. Edward Newman, in his remarks on the Golden
Oriole in England in the Zoologist, 1870, states that Mr.
C. Gordon, of Dover, received one killed on April 29,
1870.

There are three specimens in the Exeter Museum, a
male and two females, labelled Kent, the bequest of the
Eev. Bower-Scott.

Mr. J. E. Harting gives the following interesting
account of the nesting of the Golden Oriole in Kent in
the Field of October 3, 1874 :—

"Although the discovery of a Golden Oriole's nest in
England is not unprecedented, it is of sufliciently rare
occurrence to attract the attention of naturalists, more
especially when the finder (as in the case to which I am
about to allude) has the humanity and good sense to
permit the young to be reared, instead of shooting the
parent birds the moment they are discovered, and thus
effectually putting a stop to all attempts at nidification.

" It is a pleasure to be able to record the fact that
during the past summer a pair of Golden Orioles took
up their quarters in Dumpton Park, Isle of Thanet,
where — the proprietor, Mr. Bankes Tomlin, having given
strict injunctions that they should not be disturbed — they
built a nest and successfully reared their young, ultimately
leading them away in safety.

"They must have commenced building somewhat later
than usual, for it was not until July 6 that I first heard
of the nest, and the young were then just hatched. Mr.
Bankes Tomlin having kindly invited me to come and
see it, I lost no time in availing myself of the invitation,
and a few days later, namely, on July 12, I found myself
at Dumpton Park, standing under the very tree in which
the nest was placed. The reader may smile at the idea

124 THE BIRDS OF KENT

of journeying from London to Kamsgate merely to look
at a nest ; but if he be an ornithologist he will know
that Golden Orioles' nests are not to be seen in this
country every day, and that when found they are worth
' making a note of.' Often as I had seen the bird and its
nest on the Continent, it had never been my good fortune
until last July to meet with it in England. Indeed, the
instances in which nests of the Oriole have been found
here and recorded are so few that they may be easily
enumerated.

" The nest which I am now enabled to record was
placed in a fork of a very thin bough of an elm tree at
a considerable height from the ground, and almost at
the extremity of the branch, so that it was impossible to
reach it except by cutting off the branch near the trunk.
Happily, in this case, there was no need to reach it, and
the finder was enabled to ascertain when the young were
hatched by sending a man up the tree high enough to
look into the nest without disturbing it. A few days
before his first ascent there had been a strong wind
blowing for some time, and the slender branch was
swayed to and fro to such an extent that, notwithstand-
ing the depth of the saucer-like nest, one of the eggs was
jerked out upon the grass below and broken, though not
irreparably so. AVhen I saw it it was in two pieces, but
unmistakably the egg of an Oriole, in size equal to that
of a blackbird, but shining white, with black or rather
dark claret-coloured spots at the larger end. It has been
carefully preserved by Mr. Tomlin.

"As long as his man remained in the tree the hen
bird continued to fly round, uttering at intervals a loud
flute-like note, and occasionally making a curious noise,
such as a cat makes when angry.

GOLDEN ORIOLE 125

" It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to remark that, as
regards situation, form, and the materials of which it
was composed, the nest did not differ from those which
one is accustomed to see upon the Continent. Invariably
placed in, and suspended under, the fork of a horizontal
bough, the sides of the nest are firmly bound to each
branch of the fork with blades of dry grass and fibrous
roots. There is generally a good deal of sheep's wool in
the nest itself, which, taken in connection with its
peculiar shape, gives it a very singular and unique
appearance.

" On July 12, as we approached the nest in question,
the hen bird was sitting, but left as we advanced and
perched in a neighbouring elm, whence at intervals she
uttered the peculiar noise to which I have referred. Not
wishing to keep her too long from her young we left the
spot in about ten minutes, after carefully inspecting the
nest with a binocular. Returning again in half an hour,
and a third time two or three hours later, we saw the
hen on each occasion quit the nest and take up her
position as before at a little distance. Once only did I
catch a glimpse of her more bright-coloured mate as he
darted between two trees. He was very shy, and silent
too, being seldom heard except very early in the morning,
or at twilight. This, however, is the case with most
song-birds after the young are hatched, for they are then
so busy providing food for the little mouths that they
have scarcely time to sit and sing. Mr. Tomlin, who
had other and better opportunities for observing him,
gave me to understand that he was not in the fully adult
plumage, so that it seems the males of this species breed
before they have assumed their beautiful black and yellow
colours.

126 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" On July 22 the man again ascended the tree and
peeped into the nest. The young had flown, but were
subsequently discovered sitting about in the park with
the old birds. As soon as the nest was no longer wanted,
Mr. Tomlin had the branch which supported it cut off,
and, writing to me on the subject the following day, he
observed that ' upon examining the nest we found the
corners tightly bound with long pieces of matting. One
would almost imagine that a basket-maker had been at
work.'

" Both the old and young birds continued to haunt the
park until August 1, after which date they were no longer
seen. The young were, however, well feathered by that
time, and able to take care of themselves. Let us hope
that they contrived to escape the eyes of prowling
gunners beyond the park, and that they will return
again next spring to gladden the eyes and ears of their
kind protector.

" It is much to be wished that other proprietors would
follow the good example thus set by Mr. Tomlin. Could
they be induced to do so, they would become acquainted
with many beautiful birds which visit us from the Con-
tinent every spring, and which would in most cases rear
their young here if allowed to remain unmolested. Apart
from the gratification to be derived from seeing these
brightly coloured birds within view of the windows, and
hearing their mellow, flute-like notes, they would be
found to be most useful allies to the gardener in ridding
the trees of caterpillars, which they devour greedily, and
keeping many other noxious insects in check."

Mr. Bankes Tomlin, of Dampton Park, Thanet, wrote
to the Field, August 14, 1875 : " Mr. Harting gave a
long account of the nesting of a pair of Golden Orioles

GOLDEN ORIOLE 127

in my park during the previous summer. You will be
interested to hear that this year a pair (whether the
same or not I cannot say) have again built a nest in
my grounds and raised their young. The latter left the
nest on June 28, 1875. The old male bird was ver}^
bright in colour, being of a rich yellow with black wings."

" On April 21 I saw in Westerham Park, Kent, a
male specimen of Oriolus galhula feeding in company
with two or three thrushes. I watched it for nearly
half an hour, hoping to see a female Oriole, but failed
to detect one. I have abstained from recording this rare
visitant, trusting to give it a chance of life, until it had
overcome the fatigue of migration. — J. T. Carrington
{Zoologist, 1889, p. 234).

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent (p. 42),
says : " At this date (June, 1889) we have some Golden
Orioles at Preston, near here " (Stourmouth).

"On May 15 a Golden Oriole (female) was shot in
an orchard close to High Halden. A few weeks later
(June 9) a male was observed near Sissinghurst (about eight
miles from the former place). On the day after its
arrival rain fell heavily, and the bird was lost sight of,
taking refuge, no doubt, in the thick fir portions of the
Hemsted Woods. Prior to the above records another
male bird appeared during May, 1893, in the same wood.
The ' Loriot ' call, whence this bird derives its name,
attracted the keeper's attention, and thinking his boy,
engaged in arranging Pheasant-coops in a wood below
his cottage, was whistling for help, he started out in the
direction of the sound. This eventually led to the dis-
covery of the bird, and also to its destruction." — Boyd
Alexander {Zoologist, 1896, p. 346).

128 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family LANIID^.

Genus LANIUS, Linnfeus.

GEEAT GREY SHEIKE.

Lanius excuhitor, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 135

(1766).

Great Shrike, Boys, 1792 ; Great Butcher Bird.

The Great Grey Shrike is an occasional autumn and
winter visitor to the county of Kent, and generally soli-
tary. The number of instances recorded and the dates
of the occurrences are mostly in October and November.

The Bev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Kent, 1844, calls this bird the "Ash-coloured Shrike,"
and says that " this bird has been shot in the neighbour-
hood of Dover." In the same year Mr. J. B. Spencer
noted the capture of the Great Grey Shrike at Black-
heath on or about October 12, 1844, and he says: "A
birdcatcher whom I occasionally employ has just brought
me a specimen of the Great Butcher-bird, which he
caught in the act of pouncing on one of his lure birds :
it was taken alive, and I regret he killed it, as I should
like to have studied its habits. It agrees most exactly
with Bewick's woodcut and description. Mr. J. H,
Gurney, jun., states, in the Zoologist, 1869: "I received
a Great Grey Shrike, in the flesh, from Dover, on
November 14, 1869. It had only one white spot on the
wing, and the breast is marked with numerous greyish
semilunar lines ; hence I conclude it is a female. Mr.
Stevenson remarks {Birds of Norfolk, p. 62) that he has
examined old females which showed no trace of these
semilunar markings, and were exactly like males, with,^
I presume, two white spots on the wing."

GREAT GREY SHRIKE 129

The following observations of this species are given
by Mr. H. J. Harding, of Deal, in the Zoologist, 1871 :
"It is not often one can get near enough to the Great
Grey Shrike (Lanius excuhitor) to observe the strange
way in vv^hich it strikes its prey. On a fine day in the
early part of November, having three Linnets and a
EedpoU in cages, I put them out in the garden on the
ground. About ten in the morning I came out of the
cottage to see if the birds were all right, when I ob-
served a strange-looking bird cutting some queer gambols
among my cages. At first sight I took it for a Jay, but
soon discovered it was a specimen of the Great Grey
Shrike. I got within about eight yards of him, when
he flew over the hedge with something in his beak. I
waited a little while to see if he would return, which
he did in about ten minutes ; he immediately made up
to a Linnet's cage and began springing up about a yard
high and dropping again, with his claws distended, on
the cage. This performance he repeated several times.
I thought he meant no good to my Linnet, so drove
him away, but he soon renewed his attack on another
cage. I was now within six yards of him, so I tried
to take him with a net ; but he was not to be had,
and flew over the hedge. But what did I behold ! My
poor KedpoU hanging in the cage without his head. It
was this that he flew over the hedge with when I first
observed him. In about two hours after this he again
returned and played the same antics as before. I again
tried to take him, but he was too wide awake, and flew
up, to return no more."

In the Kentish Collection in the Maidstone Museum
there is a pair which were obtained at Boughton Mon-
chelsea, presented by Mr. R. J. Balston ; a male obtained
9

130 THE BIRDS OF KENT

at Bougbton Monchelsea by Mr. F. Smitb, in February,
1881 ; and a female taken at Ulcombe, November, 1891,
by Mr. G. Bensted. In a note on this species by Mr.
H. Lamb, a male was shot near Maidstone on January
19, 1887, and two others were seen that same winter.
In the Zoologist, 1890, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond says :
" While shooting in the woods here (Wingham) at the
end of November (1889), a Great Shrike came out close
to one of the guns. My friend, who knows the bird well,
said, the day being a bright one, it looked like a gleam
of silver as it went past him. It went on to an adjoining
cover, but we did not meet with it again." According
to Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainliam, this species
has been obtained in that district several times.

Mr. S. A. Davies, in his ornithological notes from the
mouth of the Stour, near Sandwich, says: "On October
2, 1895, in the coarse of the morning we went inland
over the marshes, which are here studded with tall
thorn-bushes. Seeing a black and white bird fly from
the ground into a thorn-bush, I followed it up, and
found that it was a Great Grey Shrike. True to its
name, " excubito?'," it was too wary to let me get within
shot, and would fly from one bush to another, pausing at
times, and hovering in mid-air, like a Kestrel. After I
had followed it from tree to tree for a quarter of an hour
it flew across the Stour, and as there was no means
of crossing the river I gave up the pursuit."

LESSER GREY SHRIKE 131

PALLAS'S GKEAT GEEY SHEIKE.

Lanius major, Pallas. Zoogr. Bosso-As., i., p. 401

(1811).

The only reference to hand of the occurrence of this
species in Kent is that of a specimen in the British
Museum, viz., an adult female skin obtained at Plum-
stead, in Kent, October 5, 1878, and presented by Mr. H.
Whitely.

LESSEE GEEY SHEIKE.

Lanius minor, Gmelin. H.N., i., p. 308 (1788).

The only observations on this species in Kent w^ere
made by Mr. F. W. Frohawk, at Bromley, v^hich
appeared in the Field, May 29, 1897, and the Zoologist,
1897, p. 427, and are as follows : —

Lesser Grey Shrike {Lanius minor) in Kent. — "I am
pleased to be able to record another occurrence of this
very rare visitor to this country, which I observed on
May 15 (1897) last, on the range of hills in Mid-Kent,
while in company with my friend Mr. John Wood. As
we passed under an ash-tree I heard a strange note over-
head, and looking up, I saw a bird fly out with a rather
jerky flight, and uttering short notes, resembling, as well
as I can remember, the sounds chur-tic, chtcr-tic, tic.
These notes were new to me, and from the appearance
of the bird, as seen against the background of brilliant
blue sky, I was quite at a loss to make out the species ;
but it soon dipped down, and its striking colours became
visible against the hill under which we were standing.
The bird then alighted on the ground for a few seconds.

132 THE BIRDS OF KENT

when I brought my friend's field-glasses to bear on it,
which at once revealed the pattern and richness of its
plumage. I then instantly knew what a rarity I was
watching ; the silvery-grey, deep black-and-white of the
upper parts, and the delicate pink breast and flanks,
looked particularly rich in the sunlight, and in strong
contrast with the turf on which it stood. It then flew
up and perched on a small hawthorn, from that again to
the ground, and then on to a furze-bush. After two or
three such movements it disappeared over the brow of
the hill. After waiting a short time, I saw it again
further along the hillside, chasing a small bird, I think
a Linnet, but the distance was too great to make sure
of the species, though the colouring of the Shrike was
plainly visible. From the intensity of the black mark-
ings it was clearly a male. I think it very probable
that it had taken up its abode on the hill for nesting
purposes, for which the character of the place was
admirably adapted ; and if opportunities had been
afforded, I intended paying another visit to the ground
later on with the hopes of seeing more of the bird and
perhaps its nest. — F. AV. Frohawk, Bromley, Kent
{Zoologist, 1897, p. 427).

EED-BACKED SHKIKE.

Lanius collurio, Linnteus. >S'.-ZV., i., p., 136 (1766).
Butcher Bird. Ked-backed Shrike, Boys, 1792.

Many secluded parts of Kent are favourite resorts of
the Ked-backed Shrike, which is plentifully distributed
throughout the county during the summer. It prefers
the wild bramble-covered hillsides and over-grown hedge-.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE 133

rows, where it may be seen sitting at the end of a branch,
especially a dead one, from which it can dart off after its
prey.

The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithologij
of Kent, 1844, says: "A year or two since I observed
a male Shrike of this species flying with a bird in its
claws, after the manner of an owl. Being curious to
know what bird it was, I threw a stone at it ; whether
I hit it or not I could not tell, but the effect was that
it dropped its prey, which I found to be a Blue-headed
Titmouse. These birds are very generally distributed
throughout the county. They arrive in this neighbour-
hood about the first or second week in May, and are
seldom seen after the end of August."

This species was seen at Boxley on May 24, 1872, and
also at Springfield, Maidstone, on November 25, 1886.

Dr. A. G. Butler, during his bird's-nesting in Kent in
1875, found the nests of this bird at " Barming, near
Maidstone, on June 2 and 7, 1875, two nests, built in
bushes, were varieties ("?), the eggs resembling those of
the Grey Shrike. Barming, June 2 : Nests larger than
the preceding, heavier in construction, and built in the
forks of elder and hawthorn trees."

A pair with three young, the nest, and a female from
Boughton, Monchelsea, are in the Maidstone Museum,
presented by Mr. R. J. Balston. This species is included
by Captain J. D. Cameron in the Birds of Bethersden,
and the Eev. C. H. Fielding, in his Birds of the Mailing
Valley, gives the localities of Cobham, Shorne, Cuxton?
Mereworth and Great Com p.

In his notes on birds in Kent Captain Boyd Alexander
says : " Families of Red-backed Shrikes are abroad. Stout
hedgerows, whose out-growing branches serve as perches,

134 THE BIRDS OP KENT

or the sunny portions of a wooden fence, are at this
time favourite resorts. They flit in close company
from bough to bough in front of an intruder, the male
parent bird uttering frequently his brisk chucl\ Mimicry
is also resorted to, the movements of the Spotted Fly-
catcher being then very closely imitated, and except for
his red-brown mantle and inordinately long tail he might
at first sight pass easily as that bird. When on a fence
this Shrike will often turn backwards round its perch,
and cling to the bottom of it after the manner of a Tit-
mouse. Several nests of this species may frequently be
found in close proximity to one another. A ' tiller ' (a
local name given to a young oak tree) or some other
favourable position, not far from the nest, is always
chosen as a look-out post, and this is resorted to for some
time before building is commenced. Incubation is per-
formed by the female, who leaves her nest and flies to
the 'tiller,' and is there fed by the male."

This bird was seen at Capel, Orlestone, on June 9,
1902, and at Falconhurst, on May 25, 1906, a pair were
observed. Dr. A. G. Butler states that he took fresh
eggs as late as June 8 in Kent. Mr. E. T. Filmer says :
"It is a strong lover of the bushy slopes of the railway
about Orlestone. I have seen at least five or six nests
every year."

WOODCHAT.

Lanius pomeranus, Sparrman. Mus. Carls, fasc,
L, No. 1 (1786).

The Woodchat is certainly a very rare summer visitor
to the county of Kent, and the number of authentic
instances of its occurrence are few. The earliest is

WOODCHAT 135

noted in Mr. G. E. Gray's Catalogue of British Birds
in the British Museum (p. 83, 1863) " a, Kent ; male."

Professor Newton, in Yarrell's British Birds (vol. i.,
p. 216), says : " In the British Museum there is a speci-
men of the Woodchat, a young male, which formerly
belonged to Leach's collection, and is labelled as having
been killed in Kent " ; and Mr. 0. V. Aplin, in his Status
of the Woodchat {Zoologist, 1892, p. 349), adds: "It is
probably the bird which was killed in the neighbourhood
of Canterbury, and that it is not enumerated, however,
among the specimens now in the Museum in vol. viii. of
the Catalogue of Birds." No doubt the above is the
same specimen mentioned by Morris, from near Canter-
bury. There is also a male labelled Kent in the Exeter
Museum, the bequest of the Eev. Bower-Scott.

In 1857 Captain H. W. Hadfield published in the
Zoologist an account of his finding a AVoodchat near
Tonbridge, which is here subjoined : —

" May 14, 1857 : Went out in quest of birds, and had
not proceeded above a quarter of a mile from the town
when I observed a strange one fly across the road ; there
was a pecularity in its appearance, as well as flight,
which attracted my attention, and I felt sure it was a
species I had never before seen ; consequently hastened
to load my gun, and while doing so it passed so close
that I could not only distinguish the reddish-brown
patch on the head and neck, but a fly that it had cap-
tured and still held between its beak. Having seen it
alight on an oak tree some fifty yards off, I followed it
up and shot at it, when it fell among some nettles, but
being merely winged it crept into a hedge, where it was
subsequently seen by some boys who had joined me in
the search, which was continued for an hour or two.

136 THE BIRDS OF KENT

As I distinctly saw the rufous of the bind neck there
can be no doubt of its being the Wood Shrike."

Professor Newton also states that *' the bird has been
obtained near Brighton, and a second time in Kent,"
without further data.

In 1868, Mr. A. Clarke-Kennedy wrote the following
notes on the Woodchat to the Zoologist, September 11,
1869, p. 1863 :—

"For several days during the month of July, 1868, a
Woodchat Shrike had been known to frequent gardens
in the neighbourhood of Faversham and Murston, but
for a time all endeavours to shoot the bird were unavail-
ing, as it was extremely wild. Towards the end of the
month, however, it was seen upon a cherry tree in an
orchard at Murston, by Mr. N. Barlow, who killed it,
and took it to a local taxidermist, who informed him
that it was a common bird and of no value ; but as soon
as the possessor of the rarity had departed the unscru-
pulous dealer sold it to a gentleman who well knew its
worth, and for a large sum. My friend, who is not an
ornithologist, afterwards found that he had been cheated
out of a fine male specimen of one of the rarest birds
that visit this country."

Mr. 0. V. Aplin states that Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond,
of St. Alban's Court, Wingham, writes: ''As to the
Woodchat, about three years ago (1899), I heard from a
bird-catcher at Dover that he had just caught one. I
went at once to see it, and learn about it. The bird was
in beautiful plumage, all the feathers, tail and wings
perfectly clean. The owner told me that his men had
taken it in the warren near Folkestone. That when
they saw the bird it entered a dense clump of bramble,
going to the bottom, and that they enclosed it in the

J. Srcat del, et litk.

Bale &. DaoxLelssoiL.L*:^ xmp.

MASKED SHRIKE
LANIUS NUBICUS, Licht.

MASKED SHRIKE 137

bramble, and so caught it. I look on it with |a certain
amount of suspicion." This bird is in Mr. Hammond's
collection, now in the Canterbury Museum, labelled from
Dover Cliffs.

The Eev. C. H. Fielding, in Mailing and its Valley,
1893, states that it was also seen in 1890 at Sitting-
bourne in Kent, without giving any data.

MASKED SHKIKE.

Lanius niobicus, Licht. Verz. Douhl., p. 47 (1823).

The Masked Shrike was only added to the British
birds in 1905, and the record of the occurrence was
made by Mr. M. J. Nicoll, who exhibited a specimen at
a meeting of the British Ornithological Club on October
18, 1905. This specimen was an adult male, which had
been shot at Woodchurch, Kent, on July 11, 1905, and
examined by Mr. Nicoll while in the flesh {Bulletin of
the B.O.C., vol. xvi., p. 22).

Family AMPELID^.

Genus AMPELIS, Linnaeus.
WAXWING.

Ampelifi garrulus, Linnaeus. S.N., p. 297 (1766).

The most beautiful bird that visits this county is the
Waxwing ; one cannot but admire the blending of its
soft, silky plumage, its form, and graceful movements.
Unfortunately, it is only a winter visitor, when its
secluded habits of keeping to the thicker forests of fir

138 THE BIRDS OF KENT

trees and larger woods prevent the ordinary observer
from seeing the beauties of the bird.

In Yarrell's British Birds, 1871-74, Professor Newton
remarks " that it is impossible to fix the precise time
of this bird's visitation, as Latham, for instance, states
that one was killed at Eltham in the winter of 1781,
without indicating whether it was in the winter of 1780-
81, or that of 1781-82 " ; no doubt it was obtained in
1781, whether at the commencement of the year or at
the end is of minor importance.

An adult skin of the Waxwing from Kent is in the
British Museum ; it was presented by Colonel Montagu.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Kent {Zoologist, 1844), states that ''several specimens
of this beautiful bird have been taken in Kent. In the
autumn of 1840 I was attracted by the strange note of a
bird in an Acacia in the garden, which proved to be a
Waxwing. I speedily got my gun and shot at it, and
it fell in a fir plantation near, but from the high grass
and not being certain of the exact spot in w^hich it fell
I was unable to find it, although I made a long and keen
search."

Mr. Walter W. Reeves wrote saying that " a Wax-
wing was shot at Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells, on
January 6, 1850."

On January 16, 1860, Dr. F. Plomley wrote stating that
" several Waxwings had been shot in different parts of
the county."

On January '22, 1850, Mr. Edward Newman in the
Zoologist says : " I have notices of this bird having been
killed last week in many localities round London, viz.^
Eltham and Rainham, &c."

" In the last week of January, 1850, a Waxwing was

WAXWING 139

shot near here (Deal). In the first and second weeks of
January, 1848, eight were shot." — J. W. Hulke, Deal.

Mr. A. Clarke-Kennedy states : " I have this day
(December 3, 1867) received a letter from my friend,
Mr. H. AVhitely, of Woolwich, who tells me that he
has had brought to him, during last week, no less than
eight good specimens of the AVaxwing. This species is
now, I believe, a very rare and only occasional visitor to
the British Isles. Some of these were shot in the Plum-
stead Marshes, near Woolwich, and two were procured
in the Maryon Eoad at Charlton, which is about four
miles from Plumstead. They were all, I believe, excel-
lent specimens. I do not know on what days they were
shot, whether on fine ones or the contrary ; but I pre-
sume that it was partly owing to the weather that such
a number (in comparison) should be taken about the
same time."

Mr. W. Prentis, in the Birds of Bainham, says : " The
Waxwing is extremely rare in this district, only two, to
my knowledge, have been obtained ; one was shot from
a pair in our woods in 1867, another obtained in an
orchard the same year. A small flight was seen in an
orchard at Milton."

The Waxwing was seen by the Kev. C. H. Fielding
at Higham, and others round the neighbourhood of
Eochester, in the winters of 1879-80 and 1880-81. An
occasional and very pretty winter visitor.

There is a specimen of the Waxwing in the Canterbury
Museum, from Nonington, the bequest of Mr. W. Oxenden
Hammond, and one killed in Kent, presented by Mr. G.
Simmons, in the Maidstone Museum, and a female was
procured at Smarden, January 4, 1893 (Land and Water).

Mr. Ogilvie-Grant reports that two examples of the

140 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Waxwing {Ampelis garrulus) had been caught at Rams-
gate at the beginning of December, 1903, by a Mr. Young.
One of the birds having died, was forwarded, on Decem-
ber 8, to the Natural History Museum {Bulletin, vol. xiv.,
p. 31, 1904).

Family MUSCICAPID^.

Genus MUSCICAPA, Linnsus.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHEE.

Muscicapa grisola, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 328 (1766).
Post Bird.

The Spotted Flycatcher is not an abundant species
during the summer in Kent, being a more or less solitary
bird, and only to be seen in pairs during the breeding
season. When once they take up a position on the
outskirts of, or in, a wood, they may always be found
darting off after insects from a dead branch and returning
to a similar one close at hand.

In his notes on the birds of Rainham in 1868, Mr.
F. D. Power says: "Flycatchers remained about the
orchards in considerable numbers until September 26,
when all disappeared." Captain Boyd Alexander, in
1896, writes : " Around our gardens a few families of
Spotted Flycatchers are still to be met with. These are
the late broods. Although the majority of the young
can look after themselves, yet in each family there are
one or two wearing the spotted livery of first youth, that
have still to depend upon a mother's care. The task of
feeding these devolves solely upon tfie female parent.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 141

Her mate has tired of her love-play, for as soon as the
nestlings are abroad he leaves her, and becomes once
more a bachelor. When catching prey for this backward
brood she faces the prevalent breeze, and this enables
her to detect more readily the insects' drifting course."

Dr. A. G. Butler gives an account of the variation
of nests taken in Kent in 1883 ; he says : "I took a cup-
shaped nest, apparently referable to the Spotted Fly-
catcher, in a high hawthorn hedge bounding a private
garden. This nest is formed of slender roots, moss, and
fine bleached grass-stems, compacted with spiders' web,
and is lined internally — but most thickly towards the
bottom — with reddish hair, amongst which a few coarse
black horse-hairs are twisted ; the cavity is unusually
deep. The nest contains only two eggs, rather large for
the species, of a pale green tint, sparsely spotted with
russet, excepting at the large end, where they become
denser and form a mottled patch. A nest in my collec-
tion of the shape of a slipper was found in a hole in a
wall in June, 1885, by my friend Mr. W. Drake, of
Kemsley, in Kent. The nest contained three eggs, which
completely filled the cavity."

Captain J. D. Cameron includes this species in the
birds of Bethersden, and it was obtained on May 28, 1902,
near Orlestone. Mr. R. T. Filmer says: "A pair of
these birds built their nest and reared their young under
the door of the Ham Street signal-box in 1904. It was
not until June 28, 1906, that the first Flycatcher's nest
was found. It was placed on an old stump sticking
out of the side of a large elm tree, by the Royal Military
Canal below Ruckinge. The nest was so beautifully
formed and decorated with lichen, that at first sight it
appeared to be part of the stump."

142 THE BIRDS OF KENT

PIED FLYCATCHEK.

Muscicapa atricajnlla, Linnseus. S.N., i., p. 326

(1766).

The following occurrences of this species in Kent are
few, and no douht the bird is overlooked. Deal : " On
September 17, 1850," says Mr. C. A. Delmar, "I
observed a curious little bird engaged in catching flies
near some bushes. On shooting it, it proved to be a
Pied Flycatcher."

On September 17, 1869, at Cobham, Lord CHfton
states : " I was attracted by a small bird, looking like
a miniature hen Chalhnch, flitting about the branches
of an oak : after some observation I perceived that it
was a Pied Flycatcher in the brown and white plumage."

Mr. "W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, says one of
a pair was shot in a wood-lane, by a small pond, May 1,
1871. It is in the collection of Dr. F. Plomley, at
Dover. Mr. G. Dowker records it from the Stourmouth
district. A specimen is in Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's
collection in the Canterbury Museum, which was obtained
at Elm stone. Captain J. D. Cameron says it has been
shot at Bethersden in Kent, and the Eev. C. H. Fielding
records a specimen from Eamsgate. Mr. J. F. Green
one at the " Cedars," Lee, Kent.

SWALLOW 143

Family HIRUNDINID^.

Genus HIRUNDO, Linngeus.
SWALLOW.

Hirundo mstica, LiniicTeus. S.N., i., p. 343
(1766).

House-Swallow, Chimney- Swallow. Swallow, Boys,

1792.

Few birds that are summer visitors to this county,
besides the Nightingale, have drawn upon themselves
more attention than the w^ell-known and beautiful
Swallow. No spring or summer would be complete with-
out them. This homely bird, with its delightful skim-
ming flight around the home of man, is a pleasure to all,
and the vast benefit derived by its presence to agricul-
turists, by the consumption of insects, is very great.

Among the following details of the arrivals and de-
partures of the Swallow, which are given in a more
or less chronological order, and with the time of nest-
ing, will be found, perhaps, some useful material for
future observation. The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
wrote to the Zoologist, 1844, as follows: "From the
remarks of two of your correspondents, the Rev. J. C.
Atkinson (Zoologist, 354) and Mr. Hepburn {Zoologist,
147), on the places chosen for nidification by the Hirundo
rustica, it appears that in the localities they mention
these * welcome guests of settled spring ' but rarely
build in chimneys. Now in Kent it is quite the reverse
— building in chimneys with them here is the rule,
and outhouses and barns the exception. Where we have

144 THE BIRDS OF KENT

one building in a barn or outhouse, we certainly have
an average of four or five which build in chimneys.
One year five chimneys in a house were occupied by
Swallows, three of which ha,d been regularly tenanted
by them for many years. There is hardly a cottage
which has not its pair of Swallows, which annually
return to their favourite chimney.

" The following curious instance of the perseverance of
these little birds was noticed. Three years since a pair
of Swallows, after reconnoitring the place for some days
previously, very assiduously commenced building their
nest against the interior wall of the porch of Kingston
church. AVhen the nest was about half finished it was
discovered by the person who swept the church, and
the consequences was it was cleared away. But tho
industrious little architects, undaunted by this calamity,
again set to work, and the following week the nest was
rebuilt. This also was destroyed, but no sooner was it
removed than a third was commenced ; but this, alas,
soon shared the fate of the others — being removed by the
churchwarden. After meeting with such continued and
decided opposition, the birds at length left their favourite
spot, and repaired, no doubt, to some less public haunt.
But the most remarkable thing is, that they have every
year since gone back to the porch and commenced their
nest ! And although they have not been permitted to
hatch their young, yet their love for the spot seems,
unshaken. The cause of the hostility to this luckless,
pair of Swallows, on the part of the sexton, was that
they kept the porch in a constant litter with the straws,
and mud which fell from the nest ; and on that of the
churchwarden, that their twittering and chattering dis-
turbed the congregation. Swallows generally arrive here.

SWALLOW 145

about April 10, and the majority leave us about the first
week in October ; occasional stragglers may be seen
throughout the month."

In the spring of 1844, Mr. M. Hutchinson, in his
remarks on the summer arrivals at Shooter's Hill, Kent,
says : " The early part of April was bleak and cheerless ;
but on the evening of the 15th the wind changed, and we
had a soft, steady breeze from the south-west. I felt
confident the morrow would bring with it some fresh
arrivals. I was not disappointed. As I crossed AVool-
wich Common under the opening eyelids of the morn of
the 16th, I met a pair of Swallows steering due west,
doubtless making the best of their way for the more
genial west of England. Their first appearance was
noted the same day at Eltham. In the spring of 1845,
on the afternoon of Sunday, April 6, I was surprised at
observing two Swallows comfortably hawking over the
pond to the east of Eltham Park. I did not notice
another Swallow till the 12th, and they did not arrive
in force before April 21 ; our own Swallows came on
May 2."

Morris, in his British Birds, says : " Being at Milstead,
near Sittingbourne, Kent, I noticed in the course of a
walk by Torry Hill, a white bird on the wing, which
proved to be a young Swallow, when it settled on a rail,
where I shot at it sitting. White ones have also occurred
at Frinstead."

Mr. Arthur Hussey, writing to the Zoologist, 1855,
says : " I have received information that, towards the
end of October, 1854, a white Swallow was killed in
the neighbourhood of Sandwich, having been observed
and pursued by several persons. The head, neck, and
upper parts of the back were a delicate silvery light
10

146 THE BIEDS OF KENT

brown, shading off on the under parts, tail and wings to
a not very pure white ; and the bird is stated to have
looked brilliant in the sunshine."

On October 23, 1856, Captain H. W. Hadfield, of
Tonbridge, records the "last Swallow observed by me
in this neighbourhood ; it was flying about the church
steeple, where I had previously noticed a few for some
days."

Mr. J. Jenner Weir, writing in October, 1857, says :
" I have seen at Pembury the nest of the Swallow under
the eaves of a house. Unlike that of the Martin (Hirundo
urbica), the nest was not attached or closed at the top,
but supported underneath by the bend of a zinc water-
spout."

On April 23, 1859, Mr. M. Hutchinson " saw a pair of
Swallows hawking over the round pond at Blackheath,"
and on September 21, 1859, he found hundreds of Swal-
lows resting on Blackheath. " On April 22, 1861, a
Swallow was flying high over Shooter's Hill ; April 26,
one Swallow at Blackheath ; April 28, one Swallow at
Chislehurst and one by the round pond in Blackheath
Park ; April 29, three were hawking on the heath ; April
30, two at Eltham Moat and one on the pond at Kilbrooke
Farm ; May 9, one Swallow at Blackheath. The early
Swallows could not stay at home for want of food. I
generally first meet with them on the old ponds. The
season has been too cold to develop sufficient insect-life.
At 5.15 p.m., on Friday, April 8, 1864, 1 saw one Swallow
flying over St. Germain's Place, Blackheath ; its flight
was due east, weak and weary. On Thursday afternoon,
April 21, I saw a pair of Swallows and four Martins
flying about the round pond in Blackheath Park. In the
afternoon of Tuesday, April 26, I saw a House-Martin

SWALLOW 147

flying over the same pond ; it signalised its arrival by
pitching right and left into the Sand-Martins located
here since April 21. On Thursday, April 20, 1865, at
5.50 p.m., I saw one Swallow fly over St. Germain's
Place. On April 18, 1866, at 6 p.m., I saw an old
Swallow fly north across Blackheath. April 24, half-a-
dozen Swallows hawking over Upper Long Pond in
Blackheath Park. April 26, in the evening, saw one
Swallow take a turn or two under the lee of the gravel-
pits by Greenwich Park wall, and then fly off north."

The first Swallow seen by Mr. W. H. Power at
Eainham was on April 18, 1865. The first Swallow
seen at Maidstone in 1867 was on April 15, and again
on April 23, 1868. It had been flying about in a snow-
storm.

Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes on the birds at Rainham,
during September and October, 1868, states that " an
immense southward migration took place early in October,
most marked on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. Hundreds
were passing for two or three hours each morning in an
almost continuous stream, and flew very low, only just
skimming over the Saltings."

Dr. A. G. Butler found the Swallow breeding at Tong
Mill, on June 5 and 11, in the rafters of a boat-house.

Mr. H. Lamb saw it on April 22, 1876, near Maidstone,
for the first time that year, and the last on November 8,
1875. Some white Swallows were shot near Maidstone
a few years previously.

Mr. J. E. Harting records one that was seen at Walmer
on December 11, 1880, during a light north-west wind.

In the Zoologist, 1883, Dr. A. G. Butler, in his notes
on the variation of nests of birds found in Kent, says :
^* As is well known, the Swallow alone has spotted eggs,

148 THE BIRDS OF KENT

and these I have on several occasions noticed to be more
heavily marked when the light had direct access to the
top of the nest than when it was built under the rafters
of darkened barns or deep down in chimneys."

In Dr. E. B. Sharpe's Monograph of Sivallows (vol. i.,
p. 235), Mr. E. Bartlett writes: "Museum, Maidstone,
September 1-5, 1885. Lately our benefactors, Messrs
T. and J. Hollingworth, ordered the huge Elizabethan
chimneys over the Hall and Great Hall of this Institution
to be restored, and knowing that the Swallow^s had bred
in them for years, I was anxious to see the position of the
nests. In the first chimney I found a nest of four eggs
on June 15, 1885, at the depth of 7 feet from the top of
the stack. In the second stack of chimneys, with several
shafts, and some of them extremely narrow, I found a
nest of three eggs on August 20, 1885, 6 feet 6 inches
from the top of the stack ; they had been sat on for
about five days, therefore the young would be hatched
about the 28th of that month, and if we allow six days
for the young to become fully fledged and able to fly from
the nest, it would bring the date up to September 3. In
another shaft of the same stack was a nest with four
unfledged young, which was 8 feet 6 inches from the top
of the stack ; and in such an extremely narrow shaft it
appeared almost impossible for a Swallow to descend to so
great a depth. I had often watched them, and noticed
the old birds hovering over the top of the stack before
descending, and from what I have now seen I am con-
vinced that the Swallow descends to the nest with
upraised wings, dropping straight down to any depth
necessary. I have often caught the young birds which
had fallen into the rooms from these great chimneys,,
having no doubt attempted the ascent from the nest

SWALLOW 149

before they were able or strong enough. In the third
great stack I found two nests — one was 11 feet 2 inches
from the top, and the lower portion of it was many years
old, showing that several nests had been added to it, and
this year's new work was easily recognisable ; the young
had been reared in it."

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, 1894, says :
" We do not seem to have so many Swallows now as we
used to have, the successive cold springs and wet summers
have told very much against them. According to my
observations their numbers have been reduced by more
than half. There was only one pair on my chimney-top
last year, instead of three ; this may not be the case
everywhere. No doubt with finer summers our insect-
loving birds will increase. The spring of the year 1869
was a very severe one for the Swallow. On May 28
I observed one lying dead beside my farm buildings,
and another flying more like a bat than a bird over my
garden hedge ; others were seen by my brother, Mr.
Edward Prentis, at his farm in the parish of Chalk, near
Gravesend, with their heads under their wings for warmth,
upon his horses' backs in the stables."

In his Notes on Birds in Kent {Zoologist, 1896), Cap-
tain Boyd Alexander remarks that " the congregating
movements prior to migration are not the least interest-
ing feature in bird-life. Swallows and Martins make an
alliance, and they may be seen all day long winging
their mazy courses to and fro over the cut cornfields,
and so deep at times do the Swallows pitch their flight,
that they well-nigh brush the shaggy corn-stalks with
their breasts."

Among the birds seen on the beach at Dungeness,
Mr. T. Hepburn found, on May 10 to 14, 1900, a good

150 THE BIRDS OF KENT

many of these birds building in the recesses of the sham
forts on the artillery range, and on July 20 he fomid
a nest under the eaves of a shed on the marshland with
five fresh eggs in it.

On April 15, 1902, a Swallow was observed in the
Orlestone district.

Kuckinge, October 10, 1905 : The Swallow is still
here in numbers. On the 16th they were found in large
numbers lying on the red tiles of a country house, in
a lane between this place and Snave, sunning themselves
in the early morning. They were seen continually up
to the 20th ; the majority had now left the village. On
the 23rd several were seen on the road by Bilsington,
and on the high warm slopes on the south-east side
of Lympne Church, overlooking Eomney Marsh. On the
23rd a great many still remained. On the 25th a young
Swallow was seen on the hills above Euckinge at 10.30
a.m., and an adult bird was hawking by the bridge of
the Eoyal Military Canal at 12.15 p.m. On the 26th
a pair still remained in the village. On the 27th no
Swallows ; on the 28th, one had returned, and the last.

In the spring of 1906, Mr. D. F. Warde noted the
Swallow on April 13, at or near Canterbury, as being the
first seen. Mr. J. H. AUchin, of Maidstone, saw one at
Thurnham, Kent, on the same day, and another solitary
bird at Dymchurch on April 21. On April 26 three were
noticed about the farms near Orlestone, and on April 30
they had taken up their old homes at Bilsington.

Early in June, 1906, at Euckinge, the Swallows had
completed four nests in a cart- shed, and on the 24th the
young ones were fully fledged, and left the nests shortly
afterwards. One pair brought off a second brood, which
left the nest about August 27 or 28. This last nest was

MARTIN 151

built oa to the slanting rafters of the roof, close up in
the angle near the tiles, and it was tapered downwards
to a point, without any support beyond being attached
to the narrow rafters above. There were six nests in
the angles of the roof of a woodshed close by, all within
a few feet of each other.

Genus CHELIDON, F. Boie.

MAETIN.

Clielidon itrhica (Linnffius). S.N., i., p. 344 (1766).
Martin, Boys, 179-2 ; House-Martin.

The Martin, like the Swallow, is plentiful throughout
the county during the summer, and few towns, villages,
isolated farmhouses, or cottages, are without their
Martins, the only reason for the absence of the Martin
from a house being that the eaves are not suited for the
construction of the nest. It appears evident that the
nest of the Martin must be so constructed that the eaves
should form the cover for the top of the nest ; the sides
of the nest are closed up, and attached to the over-hang-
ing roof, thus leaving only a small aperture in the front
top edge of the nest for the birds to pass in and out. In
one instance the birds commenced building a nest on
the front of a cottage and then found that the under-
part of the eaves was open to the inside of the roof;
they abandoned the position when half through their
work.

In another instance the Martins selected the front of
a house, where the eaves had been painted a stone colour ;
this paint extended on to the bricks below the over-

152 THE BIRDS OF KENT

hanging roof, leaving a smooth surface. The birds
completed the nest so rapidly that no time was allowed
for the mud to dry, the consequence was that the
weight of the nest brought it down ; nothing daunted,
the birds set to work and built another, with the same
result. They left the place, but towards the end of July
they returned and built half the nest again, and made
a roosting" shelf of it for the rest of the season.

The subjoined material has been collected of the
arrivals, nesting and departure of the Martin in Kent.
Mr. M. Hutchinson says : " On April 29, 1845, I observed
two House-Martins masticating mud for their Irish
cabin ; they appeared to have been here (Shooter's
Hill) a day or two. Our Martins arrived on May 16.
In the spring of 1846, while walking to the stable at
half-past 7 a.m., and looking at the clouds, I suddenly
exclaimed, "What, a Swallow? No! it flies like, but
cannot be, a Martin." A quick turn, however, exposed
its white rump, and sure enough there was a House-
Martin on April 1. On my arrival home, after my
morning's ride on Sunday the 5th, I caught the sound
of a Martin's twitter, and on looking up, there was our
House Martin making a figure of 8 round the two blocks
of houses, singing and chattering in very gladness of
heart."

Mr. J. Hulke wrote, December 8, 1849 : " I saw three
House-Martins at Kingsdown, under the cliff. I watched
them for some time, in order to be sure of what they
were. Had they not, perhaps, been hibernating in some
cleft, which they had left on account of the unusually
warm weather ? "

Mr. C. Collingwood records the arrival of the Martin
at Kidbrook on April 17, 1854, and Mr. M. Hutchinson

MARTIN 153

observed it on May 1, 1859, at Blackbeath, and again
he met a pair in Lee Lane, and saw a pair building at
Eltham on May 12, 1861 ; another pair were hawking
over the houses in the Dover Eoad. In Mr. W. H.
Power's Birds Observed at Rainham, 1865, the Martin
is recorded as " first seen on April 28, 1865. These birds
have been accustomed to breed under the eaves of the
houses as long as I can remember, and probably for
many j^ears before that date. They have lately evinced a
great reluctance to abandon their ancient nesting-places,
and for the last two years, as fast as they completed
their nest, the gardener, who entertains a strong aversion
for them, on the ground that they make a litter while
feeding their young upon the path and grass in front of
the house, has proceeded to knock down the nests with
a broom or some such instrument. The Martins, how-
ever, with a pertinacity worthy of a better reward, have
constantly rebuilt. I am happy to say that I have this
autumn obtained a promise that they shall not be inter-
fered with in future."

On April 24, 1866, Mr. M. Hutchinson saw two House-
Martins hawking over the upper long pond in Blackbeath
Park.

Lord Clifton records, in 1867, a pure white Martin at
Cobham, in Kent.

In Mr. J. Gould's Birds of Great Britain, 1873, appears
the following passage : " Captain King says in his Narra-
tive of a Journeij to the Shores of the Arctic Begions in
1833-35 : ' While residing in Kent about ten years ago,
having selected a detached nest, I fastened a small piece
of silk round one of the legs of its inmate then sitting
upon eggs. The following season the bird returned, and,
with the garter still affixed, was secured in the samt nest,

154 THE BIRDS OF KENT

a convincing proof of the instinctive knowledge attri-
buted to it.' "

In 1875, Mr. H. Lamb saw a Martin on December 8,
flying round All Saints' Church at Maidstone. Colonel
H. W. Fielden, late of Dover, wrote : " On November 15,
1887, whilst driving past Kearsney Abbey, I and my
companion counted five Martins flying about the first
reservoir between that place and Dover. The striking
feature was that the banks of the dam were powdered
white with snow, and thin pancake ice had formed close
to the edges. Waterhens were swimming, and Dab-
chicks diving, amongst the thin ice, and above, but
skimming close to the w^ater, was this party of Martins.
It was an exceptionally cold and wintry day for this
time of year, and I quote an extract from the Standard
of November 16 : 'A Dover correspondent telegraphed
last night, " AYintry weather has set in on the coast un-
usually early, a somewhat heavy snowstorm having been
experienced in this district to-day. Snow commenced
falling last night and fell for several hours, continuing
at intervals throughout the day. It is several inches
deep on the hills, and in some places there is reported
to be as much as a foot. The wind is bitterly cold, and
the sky is overcast and threatening. The wind blew
very heavily last night from the north."

In 1898, Mr. F. D. Power, in the Zoologist, wrote
under the heading of When does the House Martin
Arrive? the dates he collected at that time. The
following are the dates of arrivals in Kent : 1862, April
28 (one), Eainham, Kent ; 1865, April 28 (one), Eainham,
Kent (visiting old nest) ; 1866, April 16 (two), Eainham,
Kent (visiting old nests) ; 1890, May 7 (five), Northfleet,
Kent; 1892, May 8 (three), Greenhithe, Kent. 1905,

SAND-MARTIN 155

April 12, Kent (B.O.C. Report). 1906, May 2, Ruckinge,
first seen in numbers, about their old nests. In the
autumn (October 10, 1905), in the surrounding districts
and Ruckinge, the Martins were still about the Royal
Military Canal and villages ; on the 17th the greater
part of them had left, but on October 23, a great many
were found among the Swallows on the high slopes on
the south-east side of Lympne Church overlooking
Romney Marsh. On November 10, at 9.30 a.m., a pair
of Martins were flying about the garden at Ruckinge ;
it was a very mild morning. In the Bulletin of the
B.O.C. (vol. xii., p. 26, 1903), "Mr. Digby Pigott re-
ported, on the authority of Mr. R. Norton, of Downs
House, Yalding, that in November there were young
Martins in a nest in Kent. Mr. Norton had watched
the mother feedinii them for some minutes."

Genus COTILE, F. Boie.

SAND-MARTIN.

Cotile riparia (Linnaeus.) S.N., i., p. 344 (1766).
Sand-Martin, Boys, 1792.

The Sand-Martin on its arrival in Kent is very abun-
dant, and for a few days only skims the surface of the
ponds and rivers for food, generally in company with the
Swallow, and then they take to the inland sand-pits for
the breeding season. If the sand-pits are large, the
birds are very numerous, but in many instances only
a pair or two occupy a high bank where there is not
sufficient room for more.

Mr. C. Collingwood records the arrival of the Sand-

156 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Martin at Beckenham on April 15, 1854, but it was not
observed until May 10, 1906, while hawking over a large
pond at Bilsington in Kent, in company with some
Swallows.

This species, according to Mr. W. H. Power, is " an
uncommon species in the Rainham district, and he only
saw a few in the autumn of 1865." Near Maidstone and
Aylesford there are a great many sand-pits which are
taken up annually by the Sand-Martins. Mr. R. T.
Filmer says it is commonly seen hawking along the
railway in the Orlestone district. The bird becomes
local during the breeding season on account of the
absence of sand-pits and suitable high banks of soft
earth.

Attempt to Keep the Sand-Martin in Confinement. —
" While in Kent last July, a man brought me five young
Sand-Martins which he had just taken from their nest.
The burrow from which they had been taken having
been destroyed, and the birds themselves being too young
to fly, I determined to do my best to keep them alive.
The idea of giving them their natural food being out of
the question,' I mixed up for them a paste consisting of
four parts of fig-dust and pounded dog-biscuit, two parts
pea-meal and yolk of eggs, and one part ant's eggs ; but
it was quite a week before they would take this food from
a feeding-stick, and the task of opening their mouths for
every morsel was one which I should not care to repeat.
After about ten days all five fed themselves greedily
from a small glass pot of food, and I then turned them
into a large flight-cage, hoping that they would take
sufficient exercise to keep them in health. In this,
however, I was disappointed, for, although at first they
took short flights and roosted high up on the perches, or

TREE-CREEPER 157

rockwork, in the cage, they gradually spent more and
more time in cramming their crops, and one by one they
dropped off, until, at the end of the twenty-second day,
the last of the five died. I may add that, although when
first taken these young Sand-Martins were beautifully
clean, they so messed their faces with the soft food it
was necessary to give them, that before they died all
their beauty had departed." — A. G. Butler {Zoologist,
1887, p. 348).

Family CERTHIID^.

Genus CERTHIA, Linnaeus.

TKEE-CEEEPEE.

Certhia familiaris, Linneeus. S.N., i., p. 184
(1788).

Creeper, Boys, Sandwich, 1792.

This curious little bird is far from plentiful in Kent,
and its preference for old orchards and rough old trees is
well known. This may be for a partial disguise and
protection, the colour and markings of the plumage
assimilating with those of the bark on which they cling.
It is a very pretty sight to watch a pair of Tree-Creepers
on a bright, sunny morning in early spring climbing a
lichen-covered apple or other tree, when they display the
beautiful markings of the wings and tail by spreading
them out and lying flat on the trunk of the tree in the
sun. In this position, unless they move, they are lost

158 THE BIRDS OF KENT

to sight, on account of the resemblance to the surround-
ing bark of the tree.

It is included in the fauna of Higham and the Mailing
Valley by the Kev. C. H. Fielding, and Bethersden by
Captain J. D. Cameron. It is rare in the Orlestone
district according to Mr. R. T. Filmer. One was seen in
Burnt Oak Wood on March 6, 1902, and it has been
observed to catch flies like a Flycatcher. Mr. W.
Prentis, in his Birds of EainJiam, says : " Though pretty
generally distributed the Creeper is not an every-day
bird with us ; we now and then catch a glimpse of one in
our orchard trees ; they do upon occasions nest in the
orchards."

In May, 1905, at Orlestone, a Tree-Creeper built a nest
between two upright posts which formed one side of a
doorway to a thatched and faggot-sided poultry rearing
shed. There happened to be a notch in one of the posts,
which formed a ledge between the two, and only left
space enough for this small bird to pass in and out.
Not far off in the same shed a Wren built its nest in
the faggots which formed the walls of it.

On May 31, 1906, not far from the above shed, a Tree-
Creeper's nest was found, built between two upright
black feather-edged boards, which stood with a number of
others against a fence under some trees. The leaves
of the overhanging trees had fallen between these two
boards and made a foundation for the nest, leaving
scarcely space enough for the bird to pass in or out.

GOLDFINCH 159

Family FRINGILLID^.

Genus CARDUELIS, Brisson.

GOLDFINCH.

Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 318

(1766).

Goldfinch, Boys, 1792.

This beautiful little bird was becoming very scarce
owing to the large numbers taken every year by the
bird-catchers and others, who shot them down for
ornaments in glass cases, but since the passing of the
Birds Protection Act they are certainly on the increase
all over the county, and it is very promising to see so
many pairs in all directions. Of course, in the autumn
and spring the usual increase in flocks is caused by the
movement southward from the northern counties ;
by this migration southwards, and the return, a great
many more remain in Kent every year than formerly
since they have not been caught or disturbed.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
states that the Goldfinch was then common. It was
after his time that the destruction began. Lord Clifton,
during December, 1869, and January, 1870, saw at
different times several Goldfinches in some alder-trees
at Cobham, showing that at that time it was looked
upon as a rarity. There are specimens in the Maid-
stone Museum obtained at Hollingbourne in December,
1880, and also the nest by Mr. G. Coveney, and at
Boxley on January 16, 1883, by Mr. W. Hickmott.
Eggs were taken at Boughton on May 29, 1885. It is
also included among the birds of Bethersden by Captain
J. D. Cameron.

160 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. G. Dowker, in 1889, says : " The Goldfinch is less
destructive to farm produce, and most useful in destroy-
ing thistle seeds : but though met with in tolerably large
flocks, is not so abundant as I remember it. This, I
believe, is owing to the bird-catchers." Dr. A. G. Butler
remarks : "In the north of Kent, where the nest might
be obtained fairly commonly about a quarter of a century
ago, it is now hardly ever met with."

On May 22, 1902, a pair of Goldfinches were seen at
Bilsington, and during the autumn of 1905 several pairs
were met with in the Orlestone district.

Mr. D. A. Bannerman, of Westerham, Kent, writing
to the Zoologist, 1904, says : " I have noticed with great
pleasure the marked increase of Goldfinches this autumn,
and at the present time (October 15, 1904) in this neigh-
bourhood quite large flocks of them, twenty birds or
more, may be seen mingling with the countless numbers
of Brown Linnets, Chaffinches, and Greenfinches, which
fly in clouds from the hedgerows and stubble as one
passes. This increase is, I conclude, due to the Wild
Birds Protection Acts, which, I believe, prohibit the
killing or taking of the Goldfinch throughout the year."

Genus CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie.
SISKIN.

Chrijsomitris sjnnus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 322

(1766).

Siskin, Boys, 1792 ; Aberdevine.

In the autumn large numbers of Siskins are to be seen
throughout the county of Kent, either in pairs or mixed
with flocks of our winter residents, such as Chaffinches,.

SISKIN 161

Sparrows and Linnets, during severe weather. But when
the fine open winters are warm the Siskins usually
remain in pairs, and by this it appears that they are not
so sociable, and prefer to have a solitary or married life.

With regard to the species having bred in Kent, no
satisfactory evidence or data have been recorded.

In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds (1871-74),
Professor Newton says that " Latham, in a note to the
edition of Pennant's British Zoology published in 1812,
states that he received from Lewin a male and female
shot in summer in the latter's garden in Kent." The
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, calls this bird
" the Siskin or Aberdevine, and that it arrived at the
end of autumn in considerable flocks."

There are several specimens of males and females of
this species, which were obtained on the following dates :
January, 1877, December 9, 12, 13, 1887, and January 3,
1888, in the collection of the Hon. Walter Kothschild,
which were all obtained at Tovil, near Maidstone, in
Kent.

There are three males and two females in the Maid-
stone Museum from Tovil, procured on December 12,
1890, and presented by K. J. Balston, Esq. Dr. A. G.
Butler, writing about 1903, says : " I am tolerably sure
that the Siskin has bred at Keston in Kent." Mr. R. T.
Filmer noticed in the autumn of 1904 a pair in the
company of Redpolls in alder-beds, in the railway cutting
at Orlestone ; and during the autumn of 1905 several
l)airs were met with on the road to Ashford, and also at
Ruckinge and Bilsington.

11

162 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus SERINUS, Koch.
SEEIN.

Serums serinus (Linn?eus). H.N., i., p. 3-20 (17G6).

The Serin is an occasional visitor to this country, and
the only instance recorded of its occurrence in Kent is
that given by Mr. D. Seth Smith {Zoologist, 1904, p. 457) :
" On November 1(3, 1904, I received a live Serin {Serinus
hortulanus), which had been caught a few days before by
a bird-catcher at Dover, and I have since heard that
a second example was taken at the same place on the
day I received mine. Both these birds were associated
with Linnets."

Genus LIGURINUS, Koch.

GEEENFINCH.

Ligurimis cJdoris (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 304
(17G6).

Greenfinch, Boj^s, 1792.

Among the summer and winter residents in Kent, the
Greenfinch may be considered one of the most numerous.
It is to be seen and heard all the year round, and
collects in large flocks in winter, mixed at times with
the Chaffinches, Sparrows and others, and breeds freely
in all the overgrown thorns, brambles and furze bushes
on the waste land, especially very old hedgerows. On
May 25 several nests were found with three eggs in
each, these were built with wool and green moss. Lord
Clifton, in writing to the Zoologist, 1867, says : " Mr.

GEEENFINCH 163

Clogg mentions a Yellow-Hammer's nest found on
August 26. I found a Greenfinch's nest, with young
ones, in a blackthorn, about that date, certainly in the
last week in Angast."

Dr. A. G. Butler, in his observations on the variation
of common bird's nests in Kent, says : " Excepting in
strength and size, I have observed little variation in the
nests of the Greenfinch, the principal difference con-
sisting, so far as I have seen, in the presence or absence
of wool, the substitution of fine fibre or hair in the hning,
and the partial substitution of bleached grasses for twigs
and coarse roots in the external structure. The eggs,
however, vary much more, a clutch of five in one of
my nests being zoned with dull blood-red or dark russet
mottling, upon which are a few short darker red-brown
linear markings."

The eggs of the Greenfinch are most variable both in
colouring and in shape, some being almost perfectly
round, while others are oblong and appear deformed.

On September 16, 1887, Dr. A. G. Butler " took a nest
of three young Greenfinches, apparently about five days
old, out of a plum tree in an orchard near Sittingbourne,
in Kent." Mr. T. Hepburn found the Greenfinch nesting
in numbers on May 10 and 14, 1900, in the holly and
furze bushes on the beach at Dungeness.

Throughout the district of Orlestone, Mr. E. T. Filmer
says the Greenfinch is common, and it is included among
the birds of Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron.

The Song of the Greenfinch. — " I have stated, in The
Evolution of Bird Song (p. 126), that the ' tewy ' alarm
(a slurred whistle) is never uttered in the song of the
Greenfinch. I regret to say that this statement was
inserted in the correction of the proof, and was made

164 THE BIRDS OF KENT

from memory, without reference to my notes. I find
that the cry in question, the true danger-cry of the
Greenfinch, is sometimes included in the song. Also, it
is not always slurred upwards, but sometimes remains at
the same pitch, when it much resembles a note given
by the common canary in the presence of a stranger.
The Greenfinch employs the note in the presence of
a Hawk, Cuckoo, Cat, Dog, or Weasel. One day last
spring I heard a kind of rhythmical repetition of this
note, it being alternately slurred upwards and down-
wards by some Greenfinch, so that the song seemed to
run : Tewy teiooo, tewy tewoo, tewy teivoo, and so on.
After listening to this for a minute I thought I had
discovered a new strain in the Greenfinch, namely, one
composed entirely of the danger cry. On investigation I
found a female Greenfinch, evidently disturbed, on the
lower branch of an oak in the thicket, she was watching
something below her ; and soon a Cuckoo flew up, and,
seeing me, went off. The notes of the Greenfinch imme-
diately ceased, and were not renewed. On other occa-
sions the single cry has been given when a Cuckoo was.
near." — C. A. Witchell, Eltham, Kent {Zoologist, 1897,.
p. 335).

Genus COCCOTHRAUSTES, Brisson.

HAWFINCH.

Coccothraustes coccothraustes (Linnaeus). S.N., i.y
p. 299 (1766).

Grossbeak, or Hawfinch, Boys, 1792.

In olden times the Hawfinch was supposed to be only
an uncertain visitor to the various parts of England, and
was overlooked by early writers on account of its shyness^

HAWFINCH 165

and habit of slipping out of sight, but of late years it has
been found to remain throughout the year, especially in
all the old orchards and secluded woods in Kent, where
it breeds annually in large numbers. In 1844 an example
of the little that was known of this bird's habits was
written by the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Orni-
thology of Kent, who states that the Hawfinch "visits
us in winter, but not in great numbers." Morris, in his
History of British Birds, 1852, says : " It has been known
to breed regularly near Tenterden, Bexley, Dartford,
Maidstone and Penshurst, in Kent." In 1858, Mr. T.
W. Greene, of Tonbridge, gave the following particulars
of the Hawfinch building there : " A pair of Hawfinches
have built their nest this year in an orchard in the
vicinity of Tonbridge ; but, unfortunately, the nest has
become a prey to a prying school-boy, who took the
first egg and substituted in its place a small Blackbird's
egg. The next morning another egg was laid, but the
Blackbird's was gone ; the birds were then again robbed
of their eggs, and have in consequence deserted. Their
nest, however, has not been built entirely in vain, for
a pair of House-Sparrows, seeing it deserted, are now
constructing their clumsy domicile on the top of it."

In 1867, Lord Chfton, of Cobham Hall, adds the follow-
ing respecting the Hawfinch in Kent : " Hawfinches have
been unusually numerous here this spring. I saw three
on April 13, the first I had ever seen, and became ac-
quainted with their note, tzit, or tzit-it, the knowledge
of which was of great use to me afterwards in detecting
them among the tall leafy hornbeams. On April 25
I found a nest begun in a whitethorn, built of sticks,
with lichen conspicuously interspersed in it. This I
found, from that oft-quoted and very accurate description

166 THE BIRDS OF KENT

in Latham's Synopsis, to be that of a Hawfinch ; and
I soon found another nest in a tall whitethorn, by means
of the old birds, who kept up a continual agitation around
me. I now actively pursued the search, and found
between that time and May 8 eight other nests with
eggs, and five which I considered new nests, they being
either difficult of access or unfinished when I went away.
Of this large number all were built in thorn trees
save the following — three in elder bushes, about 5 or 6
feet from the ground, one in the hanging branches of
a slender holly tree (this one quite close to the house),
one on the horizontal bough of a hornbeam, one in a
yew tree. By following up their note I found a flock
of about twelve among some tall hornbeams. Some of
these would probably have built nests subsequently to my
departure. To find ten undoubted Hawfinch's nests is,
I believe, a rare occurrence for a young ornithologist,
especially considering that I had never seen a Hawfinch,
for certain, previous to the four weeks in which I found
the nests. Mr. Doubleday remarks on the extreme wild-
ness of the Hawfinch in Epping Forest. As far as I have
observed, it is not always very wild. Last winter I ob-
served one hopping about on the grass within ten paces
of the house (Cobham). When seen so near, the white
bill of the winter plumage had a very odd appearance,
giving one the idea of a bird with a piece of bread in its
mouth. I imagine that some Hawfinches leave us in the
winter and return to breed."

In his notes on the birds at Eainham, Mr. F. D. Power
says: "October 9, 1808, saw one Hawfinch. Not an
uncommon species in the summer, but always rare in
the winter months."

Mr. A. Skinner, of Faversham, states : "In June, 1869,

HAWFINCH 167

I observed several Hawfinches feeding on some cherry
trees in this neighbourhood ; they were very shy, and
could scarcely be approached within gun-shot. I suc-
ceeded in bringing down one, a fine male. A man living
near the spot shot five at various times afterwards, two of
which were young ones."

In 1873, Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain,
says : "In Kent the Hawfinch is very abundant. I may
mention many other localities where it may be found,
such as the pleasure grounds of W. Wells, Esq., at
Eedleaf, in Kent."

In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds Professor
Newton says : " The Hawfinch is most abundant in Kent.
This is shown by the fact that in the present year (1876)
Lord Clifton, as he has informed me, knew of more than
fifty nests at Cobham." The Hawfinch is included among
the Birds of Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron, and
according to Mr. K. T. Filmer, a few birds usually visit
the cherry orchards at Ham Street every winter.

In May, 1876, Mr. H. Kennard, who took great interest
in British birds, brought to the Maidstone Museum the
first nest in that institution ; it contained four eggs, and
was found at West Farleigh. Mr. Kennard cut it out
of an apple tree which was in full bloom. The nest
being covered by grey lichens and placed among the
apple-blossom, formed one of the most beautiful nests
imaginable.

Mr. H. Lamb found several young Hawfinches flying
about in the cemetery at Maidstone in June, 1887. One
of the old birds was with them. A pair with nest and
eggs, and two young birds in the mottled plumage, were
obtained at Boughton in 1887, and presented to the
Maidstone Museum by E. J. Balston, Esq. There is

1G8 THE BIRDS OF KENT

also a pair from the same locality procured on May 9,
1887, and presented by Mr. E. Bartlett to the same
Museum, and a female from Leeds in Kent, obtained
on March 4, 1890, and given by Mr. H. Elgar.

In 1887, Mr. E. Bartlett was collecting particulars
respecting the Hawfinch in Kent, and his specimens are
now in the collection of the Honorable Walter Eothschild,
and the data of these are as follows : —

Female, December 16, 1887, Tovil, Maidstone ; two
males. May 11, 1887, Boughton, Kent; male, May 20,
1887, Boughton, Kent ; one male and two females, May
25, 1887, Boughton, Kent ; male and female, young,
July 13, 1888, Boughton ; male, young, July 23, 1889,
Boughton ; female, January 0, 1888, Boughton ; male,
February 3, 1888, Boughton ; male and female, February
4, 1888, Boughton; male, February 21, 1888, Boughton;
('?), March 26, 1888, Boughton; tw'o males and female,
April 3, 1888, Boughton.

Most of the crops of the birds taken during the winter
contained the kernels of damson and cherry stones, but
in one of those taken in May the crop contained fifty
green caterpillers.

Food of the Haw/inch. — " A favourite summer food of
the Hawfinch is green peas ; the quantity they will con-
sume is rather astonishing. In the autumn I found in
their stomachs the kernels of a small stone-fruit, which,
as the birds had been frequenting bullace trees, and the
odour of prussic acid was very strong, I have no doubt
they obtained from that fruit. A very favourite food
seems to be the fruit of the yew, and I have also found
what I have not the slightest doubt were the kernels of
the whitethorn. Both the kernels of the bullace and
whitethorn were divested of the hard shells." — T. South-
well {Zoologist, 1888, p. 117).

HOUSE-SPARROW 169

Food of the Hawfinch. — " As regards Hawfinches feeding
on the kernels of cherry and pkun stones (referred to on
p. 117), I may note that some years ago I had a pair of
Hawfinches sent up from Norwich in the flesh. Upon
skinning them the odour of prussic acid was very marked,
and they were found to be crammed with the undigested
kernels of plum and damson stones. This was late in
autumn, and it should be borne in mind that the stones
had doubtless been exposed for weeks to the action of
the weather, and were, in consequence, more readily
opened than they would have been when fresh from the
fruit."— A. B. Farn {Zoologist, 1888, p. 187).

A great many of the specimens above noted from
Boughton and procured during the winter were found
to have the base of the mandibles coated with mud,
caused by their habit of digging out the damson stones
from the erround beneath the trees.

Genus PASSER, Brisson.

HOUSB-SPAEKOW.

Passer domestlcus (Linnasus). >S'.iV., i., p. 323
(1766).

Sparrow, Boys, 1792.

The Sparrow is the most familiar and home-loving
bird found in Kent. There is not a house, cottage, shed,
or haystack which is not made use of in one way or
another by the Sparrow. The mischief they do, and the
food they eat, are well known to all farmers, at the same
iime, during the breeding season, they consume a vast

170 THE BIRDS OF KENT

number of destructive insects, whicb may to a certain
extent compensate for the grain they have eaten.

Note on a Singular Noise made by a Sparrmc. — "I
have more than once heard the singular noise made by
the House-Sparrow, noticed by the Rev. A. Hussey in
the December number of the Zoologist, 353. The first
time I heard it was about two years ago. My attention
was attracted l^y a strange note which proceeded from
a bird in an apple-tree, which I cautiously approached,
fully expecting to discover some 7'aya avis. In this,
however, I was disappointed, for after carefully scru-
tinising" every branch, I could discover nothing but some
Sparrows ; and feeling pretty sure that no bird had flown
from the tree since I heard the sound, and being unable
to discover the cause from which they were produced,
not suspecting at all that so common a bird as a
Sparrow was in reality the author of this unknown noise,
I began to think it was vox et prceterect nihil. But
hearing it repeated, it struck me it must have proceeded
from a Sparrow. After watching them for some little
time, I presently heard the noise again, and this time I
was fortunate enough to detect an old cock Sparrow in
the act. He appeared at the moment to be in a state
of considerable excitement ; his head was stretched out
almost on a line with his back, his wings and tail were
fluttering, and he was evidently under the influence of
some passerine emotion. M}^ impression at the time
was that the sounds (which appeared to me to be a sort
of buzzing croak) proceeded from the throat of the bird,,
but I might be mistaken. I have heard the same sounds
once or twice since, but have not again been able to see
the bird in the act of emitting them, although I knew
that Sparrows were the authors of them, as they were

HOUSE-SPARROW 171

the only birds I could see in the trees from whence the
sounds proceeded. From the attitude of the bird in
question, and his whole gesture, I aiu inclined to think
the sounds must have been used as a sort of love-note.
But then the question arises, if it be so, why do we not
hear it more frequently ? And this, I confess, I am
unable to answer." — J. Pemberton Bartlett, Kingston
Eectory, December 4, 1843 {Zoologist, 1844, p. 453).

House-Sparrow. — " Probably it may have been observed,
but I am not aware that I have seen it remarked on,
the somewhat peculiar habit the House-Sparrow has,
not only of resorting to and occupying its old nest, but
of repairing and relining it for the winter, when the
leafless trees no longer afford it a secure or snug place
of roosting ; I say somewhat peculiar, because I am
aware that it is recorded of the Wren, that it retires at
night and in severe weather to its old nest. I find it
inserted in my note-book : ' Ventnor, October 13, 1854.
Saw a House-Sparrow carrying feathers into its nest
under the eaves.' Again, ' Tunbridge, November 1,
1856 : Observed this morning a House-Sparrow carrying
feathers into the ivy on the ruined castle in this town.
In the afternoon saw another Sparrow, with its bill
crammed full of dry grass, fly on to the cottage and
disappear among the creepers.' " — H. AV. Hadfield,
Tunbridge, November, 1856 {Zoologist, 1857, p. 5363).

Notes on the House-Sparrow {Friugilla domestica). —
" March 31, 1857 : Rather more than a week since a
pair of House-Sparrows commenced building in one of
the small elm trees in front of the house ; the site selected
for the nest is a forked branch near the top, and the
work seemed to be progressing till a sudden change in
the weather not only put a stop to it, but the drenching

172 THE BIRDS OF KENT

rain, which during the last few days succeeded the snow,
has ahnost washed away the few straws that had escaped
the violence of the equinoctial gales ; however, I observed,
both yesterday and to-day, the unfortunate couple en-
deavouring by renewed exertions to repair damages, but
as the weather still looks threatening, I think the new
foundation not unlikely to follow the old. The position
chosen for the construction of the nest is not only a most
unsafe but an unlikely one, for the tree, as I have already
observed, is by no means a large one, and might be
climbed with ease, as the branch on which it is placed,
although not large, is strong enough to bear the weight
of a good- sized boy. It is wonderful to think what these
birds can manage to make a nest stick on, for at present
it seems to consist merely of a few loose straws balanced
on the forked branch so insecurely that one would
imagine the merest puff of wind would send it flying
before it. Why they should have selected a tree, and
such a tree, I am at a loss to conjecture, as there are
houses and outbuildings in all directions. They are not
Tree-Sparrows, however, although they might possibly
be taken for such, as Montagu tells us that ' every
House-Sparrow that has built its nest in a tree (by no
means an uncommon occurrence) has at once been pro-
nounced to be the Tree-Sparrow, and consequently that
species has been supposed to be more plentiful, and more
generally diffused throughout England, than we have
any reason to believe is the fact.' . . . April 4 : The
late tempestuous weather has completely swept away
the new nest, not one straw remaining, but the patient
and indefatigable birds are still there, seemingly unwill-
ing to quit the scene of their past labours, nor should I
be surprised to find them shortly renewing their en-

HOUSE-SPARROW 173

deavours ; but how the female can, under the circum-
stances, manage to retain her eggs till the nest may be
ready to receive them is to me a mystery, unless she is
endowed with the faculty, generally ascribed to the
cuckoo, of bearing them about until a fit opportunity
offers for depositing them." — H. AV. Hadfield, April 14,
1857 {Zoologist, 1857, p. 5683).

Curious Site for a Sparrow's Nest. — " A remarkable
case has just been noted. Professor Flower informs me
that during a recent visit to Woolwich Arsenal, his
attention was directed to a hen Sparrow sitting upon
her nest containing five eggs in one of the axle-tree
boxes of a 9-pounder bronze gun which is fired twice
daily, at 1 p.m. and at 9.30 p.m. One would have
supposed that at the first discharge of the gun the bird
would have deserted the nest for ever, and that the con-
sequent recoil and vibration would have disturbed the
eggs so materially as to render them unproductive. It
is satisfactory, however, to learn from Colonel Noble,
R.A., that on May 16 five young Sparrows were hatched,
and will probably be reared in due course." — J. E.
Harting {Zoologist, 1885, p. 233).

Sparrow and the Crops. — " The House-Sparrow is a
curious fellow, full of originality, as bold a bird for his
size as is to be met with anywhere. His usual habitat
is, as his name implies, in the neighbourhood of houses,
chiefly towns or farms. In the towns there are always
scraps to be thrown away, in the country the farmyards
afford sustenance to the Sparrow ; often in the former
case, however, to the discomfiture of numerous half-
starved cats that abound in urban districts. It seems
odd, too, that although there are laws and what not for
the protection of most of our birds and beasts, yet very

174 THE BIRDS OF KENT

little is thought about the thousands of cats that must
die every year, in London alone, of starvation. Well
our present thoughts are not now with the cats, but
that most republican of birds, the Sparrow. The Sparrow
is a native of our isle, and he seems somehow to inherit
the independent spirit which, at one time at any rate,
was the boast of Englishmen as peculiar to the British
race. He is gregarious by habit, building his nest in
colonies, his favourite place being either the eaves of
buildings or thatch of barns ; if numerous, however, they
will build in every green tree and shrub, such as the
spruce fir or Portugal laurel. The nest, if built in the
open, is circular-shaped, with an entrance at the side,
whilst it is often more or less rudimentary when built
under the sheltering roof. The first sound that greets
the dweller either in town or country in the early morn-
ing, and one of the last as evening draws on, is the end-
less chatter of the Sparrow, for he — unlike most of our
sombre-coloured birds — possesses no pleasing song with
which to beguile the hen during the days of incubation.
What all their conversation can be about would tax the
most imaginative of mortals to determine, for the ordinary
listener the distinguishing feature of their parliamentary
wrangle seems to be repetition. They remind me very
much of a number of almshouse gossips, whose sole aim
appears to be to hear their own voices, to attain which
it is necessary for all to speak at once. The Sparrow,
however, is not always chattering, for he is a good
forager ; a veritable gourmand is he, few thnigs come
amiss to him, from the corn in fields to the cherries on
the wall ; with his powerful beak he shells the peas
with wonderful celerity, and when detected will fly to
the nearest wall and chirrup a bold defiance, as if he

HOUSE-SPARROW 175

delighted in a spice of danger. Watch him as he ap-
proaches the hens just fed with scraps from the table ;
in vain the cock— proud possessor of numerous wives —
lets drive at him. No good, for he returns again and
again, until at last he seizes in his beak the object of
his desire, perhaps a piece of turnip half as big as him-
self, quickly to be dropped, however, as soon as some more
palatable morsel is discovered. We have two or three
cats here that feed regularly with the fowls ; numerous
sparrows, of course, are there to pick and steal, as is
their wont. It is a curious fact that the cats make no
attempt to interfere with the Sparrows while feeding,
the birds often feeding within springing distance. When
Sparrows are numerous and food scarce, their pugna-
cious nature asserts itself ; if, however, two hen Sparrows
should disagree, the general result is interference by
some old male bird who has probably won his spurs in
many a hard-fought tussle, in right of which he lays
claim to decide upon the merits of the case ; but if the
cocks delight to fight and scratch, the hens will look on
with indifference. I have seen Sparrows attack and
drive away starlings, even from the places where the
latter had selected to nest. Around this house and
buildings Swallows can get no place for their nests, owing
to the fact that as soon as a nest is completed the
Sparrows, in the calmest way possible, take possession.
The Sparrow being a bird of social habits will, if en-
couraged, become tame, although like most bipeds of
bullying propensities, they are naturally suspicious, and
will not as a rule, unless pressed by hunger, venture
within the window ; whereas there are many other kinds
that will become very friendly by encouragement. I
remember this last winter — by no means a severe one —

176 THE BIRDS OF KENT

a case of a Eobin that used to sit on a stag's head in
the dining-room here and sing whilst breakfast was going
on, becoming so friendly at last that one morning he
pounced from his ' coigne of vantage ' and seized a pat
of butter from my plate, which, however, soon slipped
off his beak, much to his astonishment. Well, I must
now draw my remarks on this best known of English
birds to a conclusion. I much fear, however, that a
hard time is coming for the country Sparrow, for he has
increased so of late years, and the damage done by him
to the cornfields is so great that the farmers, for the
sake of their crops, will have to take steps to keep them
within reasonable limits." — Herbert Gow Stewart, Hale
Park, Kolvenden, Ashford {Zoologist, 1885, p. 307).

Writing in 1888, Mr. E. Bartlett says: "The back
of this Institution (Maidstone Museum) is beautifully
covered with ivy, which the Sparrow has taken posses-
sion of for years, builds its nest and rears its young in
perfect safety ; but by permitting this to go on, I have
lost (without thinking about it) a beautiful pink May-
tree ; they have by degrees eaten off all the small buds
during the winter, thus preventing the tree from throw-
ing out a single leaf, and since the dead tree has been
removed they have taken to two others close by, which
will, I fear, share the same fate as the first, for they
make them a perfect feeding ground during the winter.
They will even go so far as to have a tremendous family
quarrel and flog their lady friends under one's nose, be
it summer or in the depth of winter. I have witnessed
this quarrel when the snow was 3 inches deep, and the}''
(four in number) appeared more like young rats fighting
for the last crust than birds, the snow flying in all
directions.

TREE-SPARROW 177

Boosting Habits of the House-Sparroiv. — " Between
Eltham and Sidcup, Kent, are some birch-thickets in
which Pheasants are preserved. House- Sparrows come
from all directions to sleep in these places. They begin
to arrive at about 2.30, and, until after four o'clock, they
are continually coming in small parties of rarely more
than thirty birds, flying high and fast, and seemingly
from some distance. On December 29, 1895, I watched
from 3.30 till 3.50 — twenty minutes — and counted 453
Sparrows, besides a few Greenfinches, descending into
a small area some 30 yards square, in one thicket. On
another day, while walking 300 yards, I saw 153 Sparrows
descend at the same place. They roost in small groups
of from thirty to sixty birds, in the upper branches of
the birches, many of them being in full view from the
road, and all of them directly exposed to any rain that
may fall during the night. In winter Sparrows ordinarily
sleep either in their nesting-places in walls, on ricks,
ivied trees, hedges, &c. I do not know of any British
bird smaller than a Starling which ever selects so exposed
a dormitory as that above mentioned. In the same
district, also, Sparrows sometimes build in elms and
other large trees, many of their nests being placed far
out on the branches, domed and strong enough to with-
stand the winter ; but they are not occupied at that
season." — Charles A. Witchell, Sidcup, Kent {Zoologist,
1896, p. 77).

TEEE-SPAKKOW.

Passer montanus (LinnaBus). S.N., i., p. 324
(1766).

In Kent the Tree-Sparrow appears to keep more to the
north-eastern portion of the countv, and even there it is
12

178 THE BIRDS OF KENT

not very numerous, but that it breeds there is evident
from the following records.

In 1844, the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett says : " Tree-
Sparrows are tolerably abundant in winter, mixing with
the House-Sparrows and Finches. I have met with two
or three instances of their breeding in the holes of trees."

The Tree-Sparrow is included in the Birds Observed at
Bainham, by Mr. W. H. Power, who writes : " Early on
the morning of September 28, 1865, my brother and I for
the first time noticed this bird near Rainham. We were
returning from the marshes, when we heard the notes of
the bird as it flew over in the mist, and recognised it at
once. Although we tried hard, it was some days before
any were obtained ; indeed, for a day or two we lost
sight of them, and began to be afraid they bad departed
altogether. I have usually found them associated in
flocks with the common House-Sparrow, and although
there is little difficulty in distinguishing the note of the
Tree-Sparrow from that of the more common species, it
is not so easy to tell one bird from another as they fly by
in a flock, consequently the chances are considerably in
favour of one's killing a House-Sparrow, as I found more
than once to my cost.

. "In 1868, the Tree-Sparrow appeared on Septem-
ber 26 at Rainham. Large flocks were passing over in a
north-westerly direction during the first part of October.
Numbers always remain in the district during the
winter."

Lord Clifton states that a large flock of Tree-Sparrows
frequented a small wood at Cobham in the winter of
1868-9. Mr. H. K. Swann met with this locally breeding
species somewhat commonly in three different places,
namely, the seashore at a spot near Ramsgate, where it

TREE-SPAEROW 179

breeds indiscriminately in boles of trees, or crevices and
holes in the sandstone cliffs, &c.

There is a pair in the Maidstone Museum which were
obtained at Hollingbourne in January, 1893, by Colonel
Franklyn.

Dr. A. G. Butler gives the following details of nests of
the Tree-Sparrow in Kent : —

Unusual Nesting-site for the Tree-Sparrow. — " On
May 21, 1887, whilst examining some exposed mole-
burrows (many of which had been deepened or adopted
by Sand-Martins) in a brick-earth cutting at Kemsing,
near Sheppey, I observed proofs that one of the larger
holes had been taken possession of by some birds ; in
fact, at my approach a Tree- Sparrow flew out almost in
my face ; on digging away the surface of the earth I
exposed a nest lined with white feathers, and containing
six perfectly typical eggs. It is well known that Tree-
Sparrows in this country usually select pollard willows as
nesting sites, the nest being frequently placed in a hole
between the young branches of the partly decayed trunk ;
I have also found the nest in a hole in a large dead
branch which had been cut off near the trunk.

" The whole of the nests which I have taken in Kent
were found in holes in trees within a stone's throw of at
least one house, and sometimes at a distance of only a
few yards. In Kent I took one nest from a hole in the
front of an old oak tree facing the road. The darker and
more ruddy eggs are not characteristic of the species, but
most of those which I obtained from Kentish nests were
of the lighter varieties, though the eggs in a clutch
sometimes exhibit considerable modification in this
respect."

180 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus FRINGILLA, Linnaeus.
CHAFFINCH.

Fringilla ccelehs, Linnaeus. S.N., [., p. 318
(176G).

Chaffinch, Boys, 1792.

The abundance of the Chaffinch in Kent is well know
to all lovers of birds, and the observations on the move-
ments of this species during the autumn and winter of
1905-6 may help towards the supposed parting of the
males and females during that season. From October 10,
the Chaffinches were found all over the districts visited,
especially in Romney Marsh, and the slopes overlooking
that area. The males and females were equal in numbers
and generally in pairs. It was not until November 17
that large flocks of both sexes were seen in the Marsh,
which appeared to be all going south, and after their
departure the pairs still remained throughout the winter.
There is no doubt that the flocks were driven down from
the north by stress of weather and went south, leaving
those that were bred, and the old residents in these
districts, still at their stations. During December,
January and February, no diminution in either sex could
be noticed, and the males began singing on March 6,
and no apparent increase in the numbers could be
observed.

In the Zoologist, 1867, Mr. A. Clark-Kennedy states :
" In the month of May, 1862, while staying at
Frittenden, in Kent, I found a Chaffinch's nest in a
laurel, with four eggs, two of which were of the usual
colour, one with very few spots on it, and a fourth had

CHAFFINCH 181

no spots at all or lines of any sort whatever, but was of a
deep, rich blue, not unlike a Hedge-Sparrow's egg."

In his notes on the birds at Kainham in 1868, Mr.
F. D. Power says: "A great migration of these birds
commenced about October 8, and continued every day
throughout the month. This movement was always in
a west-north-westerly direction, and most marked in the
early morning, generally stopping about 10 o'clock.
Flock after flock passed over in rapid succession, and at
an average height of 40 yards, but on clear mornings they
would be very high, in fact, only just visible, and only to
be discovered by following the direction of their incessant
chinhings. I noticed a similar migration last year about
the same time, but not to such an extent."

Dr. A. G. Butler, in his remarks on the variation of
nests, says: " In four nests of the Chaffinch, taken during
the present year (1883), I observed little variation, except-
ing that one of them is thickly lined within with thistle-
down, and a second has the wall on one side very narrow
and adorned with a single, very jaunty white feather ;
last year, however, I found a very aberrant nest, some-
what roughly constructed of roots and fibre, with very
little adornment of moss and lichen, but a fair sprinkling
of fine worsted ; the interior is lined with thistle-down
and hair, the latter being, as usual, most prominent."

In April, 1906, Mr. E. J. Balston observed the
Chaffinch hawking insects from a fence at Bilsington,
near the Priory, in the same manner that the Spotted
Flycatcher does.

Notes on the Breeding of the Chaffinch.
By Charles A. Witchell.

" Some years ago, a friend who had bred many hybrid
Finches of different kinds, told me that hybrids could not

182 THE BIRDS OF KENT

be obtained from the Cbafdnch, because that bird would
not breed in confinement, a fl.ight being necessary for the
union of the sexes. This information, and the frequent
exhibition of a swooping flight by a pair of Chaffinches,
led me to conclude that the swooping flight might be
really necessary to the breeding of the Chaffinch. My
present purpose is to offer some remarks on the question
whether a love-flight is necessary to the Chaffinch. By
love-flight I do not mean the common straight cuckoo-
like flight of the male when he is leading a female from
tree to tree, and flying with a constant and even succes-
sion of wing-beats ; but I mean the swooping flight per-
formed by both birds together, in which they are very
near each other, if not actually in contact. During this
swooping, the birds always utter the call-note which they
particularly address to each other and to their young. It
is a little soft sound, something like cliirri pronounced
very rapidly. In April and May this note may be con-
stantly heard. But during the love-flight another sound
is sometimes uttered, and this deserves very close atten-
tion. Perhaps the simplest mode of describing it will be
to give a few instances of its occurrence.

"On April 19, 1898, near New Eltham (Kent), a male
and female Chaffinch were uttering their call-note nearly
overhead in an oak. They quitted the tree at the same
time and swooped close together, passing within two
yards of my head, and swerved up again into another.
They were squeaking their call all the time, and during
the flight, but at a moment when the birds were behind
me, one of them uttered a brief repetition of a full low
note, precisely like the low gurgling rattle which was
uttered on a similar occasion by the Chaffinch at Strood.

" On April 20, at a spot a quarter of a mile from the

CHAFFINCH 183

site of what occurred on the 19th (above described), two
Chaffinches were calhng in an ehn tree. The female was
shivering her wings and repeating the love-call very
rapidly. A few yards distant from her a male was hop-
ping from twig to twig, calling in the same manner.
Both birds swooped, and during the flight the low,
rattling cry was uttered exactly as it was yesterday. The
low rattle is not always heard.

"On May 11 two Chaffinches swooped downwards
together when passing from tree to tree, and during some
portion of the descent they were very close together,
breast to breast. They were all the time uttering the
chirri very rapidly. One was certainly a female, and the
other seemed to be a male. The foliage interfered with
the view.

" On May 12 a pair of Chaffinches descended together
from the top of an oak, swerved up again nearly to the
full height of the tree (40 feet), and descended as before,
uttering the call-note all the while.

" I have sometimes seen Chaffinches treading in a tree.
The male then alights several times in succession on the
female, meanwhile uttering the chirri, and at the last
attempt, when about to quit the female, he utters the
low, full, rattling note above mentioned, and immediately
quits her and makes no further attempt for some time.
It appears, therefore, that this full cry accompanies the
act of coition, and, if so, it is important if the note is
sometimes heard when the two sexes are swooping
together. It seems to imply that coition may actually
occur in the air.

" Near Eltham, in April and May, some of the male
Chaffinches have a loud, single alarm-cry, zee, which can
be heard through all the chorus of birds. This note is

184 THE BIRDS OF (KENT

sometimes given in the song, but only at one particular
part. It then takes the place of the hard penultimate
note, wheat, and whenever given it ends the strain. It
seems to me to be a survival from an earlier period. The
Chaffinch seems to be losing all trace of this danger-cry,
and to be developing instead the full love-rattle. The
chirri and the " love-rattle," and the Jcce, uttered in
succession, would constitute an excellent '' skeleton " of
the Chaffinch's song, and especially so if the first two
cries were each repeated a few times " (Zoologist, 1898,
pp. 195-197).

BEAMBLING.

Fringilla mont if ring ilia, Linnaeus. S.'N., i., p. 318

(1766).

Brambling, Boys, 1792; Kate (Kent).

The Brambling is only a winter visitant to the county
of Kent, and during severe weather associates in large
or small numbers with the Sparrows, Greenfinches and
Chaffinches visiting the stubble fields and stockyards for
food.

Pennant, in the British Zoology, 1812, states : " I once
had eighteen Bramblings brought to me in Kent which
were killed with one discharge of the fowling-piece."

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Ornithology of
Keiit, 184:4:, says the Brambhng is "common in winter.
I never knew them to breed in Kent, but suspect they
occasionally do, as I have seen the old and young birds
together in September."

The first observed by Mr. F. D. Power at Kainham
was on October 2, 1868 : " These passed over much in the

LINNET 185

same way as the Chaffinches, and were often mingled
with them ; few in comparison with the Chaffinches, but
still more numerous than I have seen them before."

There are specimens in the Maidstone Museum
obtained on March 22, 1887, at Marden, in Kent, b}^
Mr. H. Kennard. It was not until March 6, 1906, that
this species was obtained at Ivychurch in Eomney
Marsh, and on March 21 others were procured in
Bourne Wood, Orlestone, after a snowstorm.

Genus LINOTA, Bonaparte.

LINNET.

Linota cannahina (Linnaeus). H.N., i., p. 322
(1766).

Linnet, Boys, 1792 ; Grey Pate (Kent, for the
young of autumn) ; Grey Linnets.

The Linnet is resident and abundant throughout the
county and breeds freely in all the furze-covered wastes,
but it does not restrict itself to furze ; many pairs are
found nesting in old hedges surrounding gardens and
fields. During the autumn and winter they congregate
in large flocks and mingle with the other finches in the
stubble fields and rick yards.

The male Linnet is a very beautiful bird when he
assumes the crimson breast of the breeding season,
which is greatly reduced in colour in autumn and winter.
It was not until May 25, 1906, that nests were found
with fresh eggs in them, and these were placed in furze
bushes, but nests were afterwards seen in some stunted
thorn bushes in Bomney Marsh.

18G THE BIRDS OF KENT

Dr. A. G. Butler gives the dates as follows : Eod-
mersham, May 27 ; Sittingbourne, May 28 ; Murston,
May 29 ; and he says : " The nest of the Linnet is more
variable than that of the Greenfinch. Of five nests
which I took, only one had moss in its construction ;
this one is somewhat slightly built for the species, but
the walls are strengthened with coarse straws, evidently
selected from a dunghill. The second, excepting that
it is not so deep, is not at all unlike a small nest
of the Yellow Bunting ; its construction is, however,
decidedly firmer, and the grasses used in the walls are
similar to what one usually sees in the nest of the
Greater Whitethroat. The third nest is untidy, loosely
put together, and has blackish, straggling roots projecting
from the sides. The fourth is unusually deep, and is
formed of roots, fibre and wool, with a few' white hairs
towards the interior. The fifth is a very ragged con-
struction, formed of coarse bleached roots, lined with
fine fibre and wool. No two of these nests, therefore,
exhibit a similar aspect.

In his notes on the birds of Kent, 189G, Captain Boyd
Alexander remarks that " Linnets resort in large flocks
to the fallow fields, especially where charlock grows.
The proverb which says that ' safety lies in numbers '
might well be reversed in this bird. As soon as flocking
takes place, the Linnets assume once more their shy
habits, and carefully avoid our habitations, a trait also
noticeable in other species of a similar timid nature.
The delicate vermilion that smears the breast of the male
Linnet is not attained till the second year. In immature
birds a light chocolate colour takes the place of this."

During Mr. T. Hepburn's visit to the beach at
Dungeness, in 1900, he found the " Linnets nesting in

MEALY REDPOLL 187

the holly bushes on the beach on May 10 and 14, and
also a good many nests in the tussocks of coarse grass
growing on some sand-dunes in the direction of Eye ;
some of these latter nests were made right on the level
of the ground." In North Kent, he says : "In the
winter Linnets seem to find food of some sort amongst
the vegetation of the saltings, which is evidently to their
liking, for numerous small parties of these birds are
almost always to be seen there."

Mr. E. F. M. Elms, in his Ornithological Notes from
New Bomney and Littlestone, says: "I found a curious
Linnet's nest (Grey Linnets they are called locally) in
the side of a sand-bank, and ill concealed. The four
eggs rested simply in the sandy cavity, and to prevent
them from falling out, a frail barrier of bent and dead
grass was constructed across the outer edge of the cup."

MEALY EEDPOLL.

Linota linaria (Linnseus). S.N., i., p. 322 (1766).

The Mealy Redpoll is only an occasional and uncertain
winter visitor to Kent, generally coming in flocks of
various numbers, and keeping more or less to the higher
hills in the county. There are specimens in the Maid-
stone Museum taken at Boughton Monchelsea, on
March 20, 1879, by Mr. F. Smith. According to Mr. G.
Dowker, Mr. C. Gordon obtained it at Dover. And Mr.
J. E. Harting records " an unusual number of Mealy
Redpolls that visited the south of England towards the
end of 1895. At Dover the bird-catchers took as many
as 200 in one day."

188 THE BIRDS OF KENT

LESSEE EEDPOLL.

Linota mf esc ens (Vieillot). Mem. B. Ac. Sc. Tor.,
xxiii., p. 202 (1816).

Lesser Eedpoll, Boys, 1792.

The Lesser Eedpoll is plentiful during" the autumn and
winter throughout Kent, especially so in Komney Marsh,
where they obtain a large variety of wild seeds. In the
summer it almost disappears, a few remaining in secluded
localities for breeding. From the following notes it
does not appear that the Lesser EedpoU's habits are
confined to any particular position or surroundings for
its nesting place.

In the Zoologist, 1864, Mr. Charles Wharton relates
how he obtained the nest of this species : " On May 18,
1863, we found a Lesser EedpoU's nest at Tunbridge
Wells ; it was placed about 4 feet from the ground, in
a furze-bush considerably overgrown with a bramble, in
a small, unworked, and totally over-grown chalk-pit, on
the south side of a hill. The hill was principally sur-
rounded by wood and thicket, but was itself meadow-
land. The nest looked like that of a Linnet, but on going
to it three days afterwards we were instantly undeceived.
The male was singing, or rather twittering, in the small
trees close by, and we soon recognised him as a Lesser
Eedpoll, with whose song in confinement we were well
acquainted, as I had lately had one in my possession for
some time. This bird of mine had died a few months
previously, but not before he had paired with a hen
Canary ; and his only son I have now. We were
further satisfied as to the identity, by the female allow-

LESSER REDPOLL 189

ing us to examine her within half a yard of herself,
and almost to touch her on the nest. The nest subse-
quently contained six eggs, exactly agreeing with the
description in E. Newman's Bird's Nesting; three of
these we still possess, the nest we left to the care of the
parents. The nest was composed of dead grass and a
little moss, and lined with horse-hair and a small quantity
of cow's hair ; there were no willow trees near, which
may account for this strange lining."

During Dr. A. G. Butler's bird's-nesting in Kent in
1875, he found the " Lesser EedpoU's nest at Galium
Hill, near Newington, May 31. I have not only seen
and heard the Lesser Eedpoll in Kent during the breed-
ing season, but have on several occasions flushed the
hen bird from her nest. Twice I obtained the nest with
six eggs from grass tussocks growing upon narrow foot-
paths through marsh and pools of water at Murston,
and once from a hawthorn on marshy land at Kemsley."

Mr. H. Lamb found the Lesser Redpoll breeding in
1893 in Maidstone Cemetery.

According to Mr. H. Elgar, of Maidstone, the Lesser
Bedpoll is not at all uncommon about that neighbour-
hood : " I found a nest with one egg in a gooseberry
bush, and saw another in a damson tree at Linton a few
years ago. There is a nest with five eggs taken from a
pine tree, now in the Maidstone Museum." Mr. Meade-
Waldo says he " had seen a brood of young birds on
June 24, 1905, in Kent, and about six weeks earlier ha
known of several nests."

190 THE BIRDS OF KENT

TWITE.

Linota flavirostris (Linngeus). H.N., i., p. 322
(1766).

Mountain Linnet, Boys, 1792.

The Mountain Linnet, or Twite, is onl>' an autumn
and winter visitor to Kent, keeping generally to the
coast-line and marshes of the eastern portion of the
county, very rarely coming inland.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
says : " This regular winter visitant to the marshes made
its appearance this year (1865) on October 2. These
sober-coloured but lively little birds feed principally on
the seeds of the Marsh plants growing on the ' saltings,'
which are covered during springtides. They generally
fly in small flocks, of ten or a dozen, and are very rest-
less, especially in windy weather, when they constantly
change their feeding-grounds. Occasionally they may
be found associating with Linnets, from whose note
their own is scarcely to be distinguished, except by a
practised ear. On October 1, 1868, a flock arrived on
the marshes, and became numerous by the end of the
first week."

Genus PYRRHULA, Brisson.

BULLFINCH.

PyrrJiula pijrrliula (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 300
(1766).

Throughout the county the Bullfinch is generally to be
found in the wild bramble-covered wastes and thickets,
always in pairs, and by no means abundant, but its

PINE-GROSBEAK 191

sbyness precludes the ordinary observer from seeing
much of it. In winter and spring, before the leaves
appear, it is more conspicuous, especially when the buds
on our fruit trees begin to make their appearance in the
gardens.

The nest of the Bullfinch is one of the lightest
(next to the Turtle-Dove) constructions of our birds.
When placed on a high branch of a whitethorn it is so
slightly made of fine twigs, that it is transparent, and the
eggs may be seen in it. In some instances it is so loosely
put together that it falls to pieces on removal.

Mr. E. T. Filmer says it breeds freely in the thorn
hedges along the railway in the Orlestone district. The
nests have been found in various positions, high up in
thorn bushes and low down within 18 inches of the
ground, sometimes in small open bushes, and at others in
dense brambles.

Genus PINICOLA, Yieillot.
PINE-GEOSBEAK.

Pinicola enucleator (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 299

(1766).

The earliest and only record of the Pine-Grosbeak in
Kent is that given by the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett in
the Zoologist, 1844, p. 621, as follows: "The Pine-
Grosbeak has been occasionally killed in Kent."

In the Zoologist, 1877, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., calls
attention to the claim of the Pine-Grosbeak to be
regarded as a British bird. After giving all the particu-
lars respecting the Pine-Grosbeaks obtained in England
up to 1877, he refers to those of Kent: "In Mr. Pern-

192 THE BIRDS OF KENT

berton Bartlett's notes on the ornithology of Kent, the
reader is informed that the Pine-Grosbeak has been
' occasionally killed ' in the county. Mr. Bartlett's in-
formant was Dr. F. Plomley, who possibly may have
referred to a pair of Pine-Grosbeaks in the late Mr. J.
Chaffey's collection of Kentish birds, which were said to
have been killed in England, but on whose authority is
not known."

Genus LOXIA, Linnaeus.

CROSSBILL.

Loxia curvirostra, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 299
(1766).

From the following records there is sufficient evidence
that the Crossbill remains in Kent during the summer,
and breeds in the county, and the earliest of these par-
ticulars appeared in Yarrell's British Birds, who says :
" I have been favoured by the Rev. L. B. Larking, of
Ryarsh Vicarage, near Maidstone, with a copy of an old
MS., which refers to this subject in the following terms :
' That the yeere 1593 was a greate and exceeding yeere of
apples ; and there were greate plenty of strange birds,
that shewd themselves at the time the apples were full
rype, who fedde uppon the kernells onely of those apples,
and haveing a bill with one beake wrythinge over the
other, which would presently bore a greate hole in the
apple, and make way to the kernells ; they were of the
bignesse of a Bullfinch, the henne right like the henne of
the Bullfinch in colour ; the cocke a very glorious bird, in
a manner al redde or yellowe on the brest, backe, and
head. The oldest man living never heard or reade of any

fWsm^

J . Sxnit del . et litk .

Bale ScDaiiielssoiL,L^ mrp.

CROSSBILL (YouTig)
LOXIA CURVIROSTRA, LinxL.

CROSSBILL 193

such like bird ; and the thinge most to be noted was,
that it seemed they came out of some country not in-
habited, for that they at the first would abide shooting at
them, either with pellet, bowe, or other engine, and not
remove till they were stricken downe ; moreover, they
would abide the throweing at them, in so much as diverse
were stricken downe and killed with often throweing at
them with apples. They came when the apples were
rype, and went away when the apples were cleane fallen.
They were very good me ate.' "

Professor Newton, in the last edition of Yarrell's
British Birds, states that " Lewin, in July, 1791, showed
Latham a pair of old birds and a young one shot in his
garden, while others of the brood still frequented the
spot ; and in August of the same year a hen-bird, with a
bare breast as if she had been sitting, was shot at Erith,
according to the naturalist last named, who also, in a
contribution to the edition of Pennant's British Zoology,
published in 1812, stated that a pair built a nest near
Dartford, in Kent, but no eggs were laid therein, for the
birds forsook it, owing to the too great curiosity of
visitors."

In his Ornithological Notes of Kent, 1844, the Eev. J.
Pemberton Bartlett states that " these curious and
interesting birds visit the fir plantations in this neigh-
bourhood (Kingston) in greater or less numbers nearly
every year, appearing in considerable flocks some years in
the autumn, while in others only a few stragglers are to
be seen. I have shot several very fine-plumaged birds,
but from their exceeding tameness it is difficult in a fir
plantation to get sufficiently far from them to avoid
blowing them to pieces. Although I have myself never
found a nest of the Crossbill, I have ascertained from
13

194 THE BIRDS OF KENT

good authority the fact of their nidification in the fir
plantations of Sir H. Oxenden, Bart., at Broome."

Morris, in his History of British Birds, 1852, says :
" This species builds in the fir plantations about Dodding-
ton, Kent."

In the Zoologist, 1868, Lord Clifton states that " a
young Crossbill was caught in the garden of Cobham
Vicarage during the summer of 1868."

Crossbill at Wingham. — " On July 27, I heard Cross-
bills as I was walking through the grounds close to my
house, and almost immediately I saw a splendid old male
with a female on a Lebanon cedar some 20 yards from
me. The male bird shone like scarlet coral in the sun,
as he swayed to and fro on the extremities of the
branches. They seemed restless, and soon went off to
an old larch, which they left again, and I lost them.
Having never before seen Crossbills in the summer, I
strongly suspected they had been breeding here. This
morning I have just learned that some masons, who
are at work about the house, picked up a young Cross-
bill at the edge of a pond where they were mixing their
mortar ; the bird was covered with mud and half-
drowned. It lived one day and then died. It was seen
by my gardener and also by my gamekeeper, to whom the
men showed it. I think this is conclusive as to the fact
that the Crossbill occasionally breeds in this country. —
W. Oxenden Hammond, Wingham, Kent, August 8,
1868.

" P.S. — A closer enquiry refutes the persuasion I felt
that the Crossbills had bred at my place. The bird
caught (not the pair) was thrown away when it died ; but
I have seen the man who caught it, and he says it had
red and green feathers. If I am right in thinking that

CROSSBILL 195

no red feathers come till the first moult, it then was not
a young bird, and my nesting theory fails. However, the
presence of these birds in summer still would lead me
to suspect that it bred." — W. 0. Hammond {Zoologist,

1868, p. 1376).

Crossbills near Faversham. — " About the end of May I
saw a quantity of these birds on some lofty fir trees ; I
and a friend shot about twenty of various colours ; the
greater part of them were males. Some were in the
beautiful red plumage. After a few days these birds
became very shy ; I have had several brought to me since
that time ; the last I received — four birds, three of which
were males — was on January 12." — A. Skinner {Zoologist,

1869, p. 1561).

Mr. R. T. Filmer says: "The only pair that I have
ever seen was in the summer of 1871. At that time, in
going to and from my work, I passed Springfield, Bye,
the residence of the late Mr. Burrak. No doubt the birds
nested in his grounds ; they were daily seen by me for a
long time."

In the Maidstone Museum there is a male and female
obtained at Boughton Malherbe on July 25, 1887, by the
Eev. H. A. Watson. This pair of birds was noticed in
the Rochester Naturalist, October, 1887, by Mr. H. Lamb
and also in the Zoologist of that year. And there is also
a pair procured near Maidstone in November, 1889, by
Mr. W. H. Bay. There are also specimens in the Can-
terbury Museum from St. Alban's Court, Wingham, in
Mr. AV. Oxenden Hammond's collection. The Ptev. B.
Delmar records it from Elmstone. Mr. Selby Smith
procured two males and a female on December 8, 1903,
in some fir trees at Barming, near Maidstone, which are
still in his possession. A fully fledged nestling, just able

196 THE BIRDS OF KENT

to fly, of this species, is now in the Maidstone Museum.
It was caught ahve by Mr. H. Lamb in the Cemetery,
Maidstone, on May 25, 1899, and preserved by Mr. H.
Elgar. It appears that the late Mr. H. Lamb had been
for some time on the watch for the breeding place of the
Crossbills, which were frequently seen in that district.

Professor Newton, in the last edition of Yarrell's
British Birds (vol. ii., p. 200), adds as a note: "Blyth
says {Field Naturalist, i., p. 130) he was informed by a
man who saw a brood taken near Sevenoaks, in Kent,
that the nestlings when about half-fledged ' had the bill
as much crossed as the adults.' But Blyth did not assert
this on his own authority, and it is clearly a mistake."

PAKEOT CEOSSBILL.

Loxia j^ityopsittacus. Bechstein. Oiii. Tasclienh.^
i., p. 106 (1802).

The first notice of the Parrot Crossbill in Kent is
given by Morris in his History of British Birds, 1852,
who states that " a small flock was seen at Dodington,
in Kent, in September, 1851." There is a skin of a
female in the British Museum which was obtained at
Bostal Common, Plumstead, in Kent, in January, 1868,
and presented by Mr. H. Whitely, of Woolwich.
According to Mr. H. Seebohm {British Birds, 1884), the
Parrot Crossbill " has been known to breed in Kent,"
but without the slightest clue as to how this information
was obtained.

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, on
the authority of the late Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover, gives
East Kent as a locality in which it has been obtained,,
without data.

CORN-BUNTING 197

None of these records appear in Mr. J. E. Harting's
Handbook of British Birds, 1901.

TWO-BAEEED CEOSSBILL.

Loxia bifasciata, C. L. Brehm. Ornis, iii., p. 85

(1827).

At a meeting of the British Ornithological Club held
on February 18, 1903, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst recorded the
occurrence, and also exhibited on behalf of the owner,
" a female Two-barred Crossbill {Loxia bifasciata) for
the first time in Kent. It was shot by Mr. H. Dale, on
Cold Blow Farm, Woodchurch, on December 26, 1902.
It was a dull grey-brown bird, with a slight tinge of
yellowish-green on the flanks, and a poor specimen from
having been kept a long time before being preserved"
{Zoologist, 1903, p. 420).

Genus EMBERIZA, Linnaeus.

COEN-BUNTING.

Emheriza miliaria, Linnaeus. 8.N., i., p. 308

(1766).

Bunting, Boys, 1792 ; Nib Lark, Dowker.

This species is certainly not abundant in any part of
Kent, and its solitary habits are well known, only being
found in pairs during the breeding season. There are
certain districts which appear to suit the habits of the
Bunting, and there it may be observed regularly, but
only in very severe weather does it come into farmyards
for food with other finches.

198 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The Kev. C. H. Fielding records it from Higham, and
it was obtained near Maidstone, in 1889, by Mr. E.
Bartlett. Mr. G. Dowker found it in the Stourmouth
district.

Mr. T. Hepburn obtained the eggs from the beach at
Dungeness on August 14, 1900, and he " was told that
they were common on the arable land of the marshes."
In the Kainham district, according to Mr. W. Prentis,
"the Corn-Bunting is not very numerous as a species;
generally to be met with on search being made ; does
not associate, as a rule, with other birds, breeds in the
grass when the meadows are laid up for hay ; also in
pea-fields, singing its well-known note on the top of a
bush or fence.

Dr. A. G. Butler says : " Although this species is
tolerably common in Kent, I do not think I took its
nest more than half-a-dozen times during the seventeen
successive years in which I was an enthusiastic bird's
nester, but as I had a strong objection to trampling down
crops on the bare chance of discovering a nest, it is
probable that I may frequently have passed within a
few yards of the nest of a Corn-Bunting without being
aware of the fact."

YELLOW HAMMEE.

Emheriza citrinella, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 309
(1766).

Yellow Hammer, Boys, 1792 ; Yellow Bunting.

Among our resident birds the beautiful Yellow Hammer
is one of the most plentiful. It would be difficult to
stroll along the country roads in Kent without noticing

YELLOW HAMMER 199

many pairs or flocks of them, according to the season.
In the summer the bright yellow plumage of this bird
is most attractive, and always conspicuous. During the
winter they gather in flocks and associate with the
Chaffinches, Sparrows and others about the farmyards
and gardens.

In his remarks on this species Dr. A. G. Butler says :
" The Yellow Hammer (or Bunting) is a very abundant
species, and in Kent one meets with it on every ramble ;
its brilliant colouring, unsurpassed by that of a Canary,
and its funny little, never varying song, make it a general
favourite. • In partially cleared waste ground where there
is short scrub of about a year's growth, its nest abounds,
and the bird sitting close until one is almost upon it, and
then flymg ofi' with no little bustle, constantly calls one's
attention to the existence of a nest where least expected ;
it is, however, so conspicuous an object that there is
rarely any difficulty in discovering it. The male Yellow
Bunting in breeding plumage appears to vary consider-
ably in beauty of plumage, the birds of Mid-Kent appear-
ing almost like a distinct species from those of North-west
Kent, owing to the much greater development of yellow
on the head. The female is much less yellow than the
male (excepting in pairs netted in West Kent, which
even in breeding plumage differ comparatively little). I
have repeatedly tried to get hold of Yellow Hammers in
brilhant plumage ; but living on the borders of North-
west Kent, I find that the catchers invariably bring me
duU-plumaged birds ; the more intelligent have assured
me that they have never seen a brightly coloured male
Yellow-Hammer in the neighbourhood, which exactly
agrees with my own experience. In the males of North
Kent, on the other hand, all the males are especially fine

200 THE BIRDS OF KENT

in colouring." In East Kent the males assume the fine
yellow plumage of those found in North Middlesex.

In 1900 Mr. T. Hepburn found the Yellow Bunting on
May 10 and 14, "common and nesting in the furze
bushes on the beach at Dungeness."

CIEL BUNTING.

Emheriza cbius, Linnaeus. S.N.^ i., p. 311 (1766).

From the few records of the occurrence of the Cirl
Bunting in Kent, it is evident that it is far from being
a permanent resident, and only occasionally found
breeding in the count3\

In his Ornitliological Notes on the Birds of Kent,
1844, the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states that the
Cirl Bunting is " rare." In the spring of 1857, Mr.
R. J. Balston shot five of these birds on the Warren at
Boxley in Kent, and he noticed them again on March 19,
1859. In the Zoologist, 1872, Mr. D. T. Button, of
Gravesend, writing on February 21, says : " The Cirl
Bunting also occurs here (Gravesend) in flocks of from
four to twelve."

In The Birds of Great Britain, 1873, Mr. J. Gould
says " it is by no means scarce in Kent," &c.

In Mr. G. Dowker's Birds of East Kent, 1889, it is
considered a "common resident"; he also adds the
localities and authorities as follows : Dover, C. Gordon ;
Elmstone, Rev. B. Delmar; Kent, Dr. F. Plomley.

Mr. 0. V. Aplin, in On the Distribution of the Cirl
Bunting {Zoologist, 1892), under the county of Kent,
states that "Mr. W. 0. Hammond, of St. Alban's Court,
Wingham, writes : ' I have never myself seen the Cirl

ORTOLAN BUNTING 201

Bunting, but I have had specimens twice from Mr. C.
Gordon, of Dover, obtained in that neighbourhood.' "

The Eev. C. H. Fielding, in 1893, added Eamsgate as
a locahty.

In 1894, Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham,
writes : " There is only one patch in my district where
the Girl Bunting is to be found, about a mile of trees
and bushes bordering the marshes in the vicinity of two
old decoy ponds. I once found a nest containing eggs
in an old dried-up decoy pond ; it was built on the ground
amongst the dead stems of the reeds."

In British Birds' Nests and Eggs, 1903, Dr. A. G.
Butler states that " Mr. Bidwell recognised in my col-
lection a clutch of eggs of this species w^hich I had taken
at Iwade, near Sheppey, on June 5, 1877, as being
unquestionably those of Emheriza cirlus."

OETOLAN BUNTING.

Emheriza liortulana, Linnaeus. >S'.iV., i., p. 309
(177G).

This Bunting appears to be a very rare accidental
visitor to this country, and the only records of its occur-
rence in Kent are briefly as follows : In the Zoologist,
1866, Lord Clifton, of Cobham Hall, writing on May 2,
1866, states : " On April 10, I saw here (Cobham, Kent)
a Bunting, which, in my opinion, and in that of the
Editor of the Field, was undoubtedly Emheriza hortidana
It was sitting on an elder bush near a large pond, and
remained there for some minutes. I at once distinguished
it by its green head."

202 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, adds
this bird to his hst as an " accidental visitor," and on the
authority of the late Mr. C. Gordon, it was obtained at
Dover.

EEED-BUNTING.

Emheriza sclioenicliis, Linnaus. >S'.A^., i., p. 311
(1776).

Eeed-SpaiTow, Boys, 1792.

In all the large reed-beds on the marshes in Kent the
Eeed-Bunting is generally to be found, but it is not an
abundant species. In the summer and breeding season
they keep in pairs, and in autumn and winter they may
be seen in small family parties in the low-lying districts.
Occasionally they are found in inland districts. Captain
H. W. Hadfield notes the Eeed-Bunting as having been
shot on February 14, 1857, at Tonbridge, in Kent, and
Lord Clifton mentions that, " on December 28, 1868,
I was surprised to see a male Black-headed Bunting in
a dry coppice, the last place in which I should have
expected to see one. The nearest water to the woods
is the Med way. On January 6, 1869, I saw a Black-
headed Bunting at some distance from any water."

This species is included in the following districts :
Higham, Eev. C. H. Fielding ; Bethersden, Captain J.
D. Cameron. It is a constant resident, according to Mr.
G. Dowker, in the Stourmouth district. At Orlestone,
Eomney Marsh, and in the surrounding country it is not
uncommon. On May 10 and 14, 1902, Mr. T. Hepburn
found it "nesting in some numbers in many places near

REED-BUNTING 203

water on the beach at Dangeness. Some of the nests
found at this date contained hard-set eggs, and all of
them showed signs of incubation. The nests were, as
a rule, within 12 inches of the ground, in the rank
grass and rushes ; two of them were right on the ground.
The nests are rather loosely constructed of grass, with
a slight lining of hair." In May, 1902, Mr. E. F. M.
Elms, in his Notes on the Birds of New Bomneij and
Littlestone, " found a nest of this species, containing five
typical eggs, built amongst the grasses of a ditch-bank,
and within a few inches of the water-level." Dr. A. G.
Butler says he had " seen individual examples from time
to time not far from Canterbury," but he received "a nest
from Mr. AV. Drake which had been found on the saltings
at Kemsley, near Sheppey."

This species is included by Mr. Walter Prentis in his
Birds of Bainliam, under the heading of Black-headed
Bunting {Emheriza melanocepliala , Scopoli), which is an
error.

Our Reed-Bunting {Emheriza schoeniclus, Linn.) was
by older authors called the Black-headed Bunting, and
it was not until the discovery of the accidental occurrence
of the large Black-headed Bunting {Emheriza {_Euspiza']
melanocepliala, Scopoli) in England, that it was found
necessary to fall back on the old English name of Eeed-
Bunting, or Reed- Sparrow, for our resident species.

204 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus CALCARIUS, Bechstein.

LAPLAND BUNTING.

Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus). f^.N., i., p. 317
(1766).

In this county, like all other parts of England, the
Lapland Bunting is only an accidental visitor, being
driven down from its northern home during the autumn
and winter owing to the severity of the weather.

On February 28, 1867, Mr. J. Jenner Weir w^rote to
the Zoologist stating that a Lapland Bunting had been
obtained at Lewisham in Kent : " This very rare straggler
was captured, during the late severe weather, in Lewis-
ham brickfields, near the Lewisham Road. The speci-
men is a male in the winter plumage, the velvety black
beginning to show a little on the head and breast. The
bird is very lively, and though the lark-feet would
suggest a different habit, appears to prefer perching to
resting on the ground. I may add that it showed its
affinity to the Buntings by descendmg when caught to
the call of the Common Bunting." Mr. G. Dowker
records this bird at Dover on the authority of the late
Mr. C. Gordon, and at Folkestone on that of Mr. H.
Ullyett.

In the Zoologist, 1883, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond
records the capture of a Lapland Bunting in the neigh-
bourhood of Wingham in Kent : " The bird-catcher had
taken what he termed an ' Ortolan,' but which was,
indeed, a Lapland Bunting in its winter dress."

SNOW-BUNTING 205

Genus PLECTROPHANES, Meyer.

SNOW-BUNTING.

Flectrophanes nivalis (Linn^us). H.N., i., p. 308

(1766).
Snow Flake and Tawny Bunting, Boys, 1792.

The Snow-Bunting, like the last-mentioned species,
comes to this county during severe winters, and keeps
generally to the sea-coast of East Kent.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
stated that it was " common in Eomney Marsh."

In the winter of 1847, Mr. J. W. Hulke shot a Snow-
Bunting at Deal, and on November 4, 1848, he shot
another out of a small flock on the beach. Both were in
the plumage of the Tawny Bunting.

Mr. J. Jenner Weir, writing on February 28, 1867,
says: "I was fortunate enough to obtain this morning a
most beautiful specimen of the male Snow-Bunting ; the
bird is in variegated plumage of spring, is very healthy
and active, and I trust will form an interesting addition
to my aviary."

There are specimens in the late Mr. W. Oxenden
Hammond's collection in the Canterbury Museum, pro-
cured at Dover, but according to his note in the Zoologist
of 1883, he secured several specimens in the beautiful
white plumage in the neighbourhood of Wingham in
November, 1882.

It is an occasional visitor, according to Mr. G. Dowker,
to the Stourmouth district, and also to the Eainham
Marshes, according to Mr. W. Prentis.

In Mr. T. Hepburn's Birds of North Kent, he says:

206 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" Upon one occasion only, January 31, 1903, I followed
and watched a flock of fifteen Snow-Buntings feeding in
the grass on the river-wall. When flying away the white
feathers in the wings and tail were so conspicuous as to
make them appear to be almost entirely white. The note
they uttered when flying was something like the twdtter
of the Greenfinch."

Family ICTERID^.

Genus AGEL^US, Vieillot.

RED-WINGED STARLING.

AgelcEUS pJiceniceus (Linnceus). S.N., i., p. 161
(1766).

The only occurrence of this species in Kent was first
recorded by Mr. J. E. Harting in his Handbook of
British Birds, 1872, who states that " Mr. J. H. Gurney,
jun., informs me that he saw this specimen while in the
hands of a bird-stuffer at Rye for preservation ; it was
killed at Romney, in Kent, June, 1864, or 1865." It is
also included in the last edition (1901) of that work.
Professor Newton also adds it to the last edition of
Yarrell's British Birds, and Mr. G. Dowker included
the same bird in his Birds of East Kent.

STARLING 207

Family STURNID^E.

Genus STURNUS, Linm-eus.

STAELING.

StuDUis vulgaris, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 290

(1766).

Stare or Starling, Boys, 1792.

The Starling is extremely abundant all over the
county. In the spring they separate into pairs for the
breeding season, and in the autumn and winter they may
be seen in large flocks in the pastures, especially among
the sheep.

It is very amusing to see these wonderfully active birds
searching the lawn and garden for food for their young,
probing, as they do, every hole or crevice in the ground
for any living insect or worm.

Mr. Morris mentions that Mr. Chaffey, of Doddington,
Kent, has in his possession two of these birds, pure
white, shot in the Isle of Sheppey. A pure white
Starling was seen for some time in the Orlestone district,
and then disappeared.

In the Birds Observed at Bainham, 1865, Mr. AV. H.
Power writes : "A large flock of these birds continually
waged war with some Kestrels for possession of the roof
of a shed on the marshes, and very often succeeded in
driving off their adversaries. On November 11, 1864,
near the same place, I saw, in company with a flock of
Starlings, a perfectly white one. Several times during
the course of the day did I try to get within range, but
was always unsuccessful."

In the Zoologist, 1888, Mr. F. H. Parrot mentions the

208 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" unrecorded habits of the StarUng" ; he says : " Whilst
saiHng on the Thames just belov/ Erith, on June 3 last
(1888), I was surprised to see some Starlings flying close
to the surface of the water, and picking up pieces of
bread floating there. When one had secured a piece, it
immediately made for land to eat it. I also noticed the
other day a Starling hawking for insects in much the
same manner as the Martin, flying around it ; so that
Starlings not only imitate other birds' notes, but also
their habits." Starlings appear to be very fond ;of sitting
on the outside dead branches of large elm trees and
hawking like Flycatchers ; a great many were observed
on one tree catching the winged ants which were
migrating.

Starlings during the breeding season will take posses-
sion of every available position they can find for their
nests, and if possible, will stop a chimney, or the head
of a rain-water pipe, and when practicable, will get
under the roof, to the annoyance of the household. A
thatched roof affords a grand opportunity for the nesting
place, but as a rule they generally keep to the habitation
of man.

Mr. E. J. Balston once found a Starling's nest in a
wooden case of a pump, the house being uninhabited at
the time. At Boxley Abbey he observed these birds
feeding their young, May 12, 1872 ; food was taken
twelve times during a quarter of an hour — 1.4.5 to 2 p.m.
— and excreta was removed about three times during that
period. Again, on the 13th, from 5.30 to 5.45 p.m., food
was taken five times. On the 17th he watched two nests
from 4.15 to 6 p.m. ; food was taken to the nest already
mentioned five times, and to the other seven times,
excreta was removed once from each during that time.

ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR 209

Genus PASTOR, Temminck.
EOSE-COLOURED PASTOR.

Pastor roseus (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 294 (1766).

Although an accidental or occasional visitor to Kent,
the Rose-coloured Pastor has been taken, and also ob-
served many times, in the county, but it is doubtful
whether it has ever bred here.

The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, records one
specimen in Dr. F. Plomley's collection, which is probably
the one now in the Dover Musemn, but like all these
specimens without data ; and like those at Canterbury the
records are retained by the departed donors, and nothing
is done towards even a label with what little is known
about them.

In the Zoologist, 1857, the Rev. C. W. Shepherd wrote,
saying : " I have a Rose-coloured Pastor, which was shot
at Frindsbury, near Rochester ; it was shot in the sum-
mer, in a cherry orchard, out of a flock of Starlings."
There is a specimen labelled Kent in the Maidstone
Museum, without data, presented by Mr. G. Simmons.
Mr. W. Prentis records that one was shot by a labouring
man near Maidstone on the Tonbridge Road, in the year
1863 ; perhaps this refers to the above example.

In the Birds of East Kent Mr. G. Dowker says :
"Another rare visitor, the Rose-coloured Pastor, was
shot by Mr. Hammond at St. Albans, Kent, in 1887,
and another specimen had been obtained from Wye."

Bose-coloured Pastor in Kent. — " I think I may with

certainty record the occurrence of a Rose-coloured Pastor

here in January last (1889). It was seen in company

with some Fieldfares, and from the description given to

14

210 THE BIRDS OF KENT

me, the observer being very near the bird, I have not
a doubt as to its identity ; the rose colour was con-
spicuous, but the black on the head and wings was less
so ; the breast was described to nie as " a most beautiful
rose," and the " head above the eye dark." The bird was
also described as smaller than the Fieldfares with which
it was feeding. About mid-summer, 1888, a young Pastor,
with the immature grey-brown plumage of the first year,
was killed at Godmersham, some six or seven miles from
Canterbury, and was at first taken for a Starling, but
subsequently identified by Mr. Gordon, of the Dover
Museum, who set it up. I saw this bird, and it was
most certainly a Pastor. The occurrence of these two
birds in comparatively the same neighbourhood in the
same year, one quite immature, the other having passed
the autumn moult, seems to point to their having been
bred in the locality ; at least this would be a reasonable
surmise if the rose feathers appear after the first autumn
moult. Some years ago I obtained a fine specimen of the
mature Pastor in very nearly the same neighbourhood ;
it was shot in a garden while eating cherries." — W.
Oxenden Hammond, Wingham, Kent {Zoologist, 1889,
p. 184).

In the Zoologist, 1901, Mr. L. A. Curtis Edwards
records : " A fine adult male Rose-coloured Pastor was
obtained on May 14 last (1901), near Appledore, in
Romney Marsh, Kent. It was sent for preservation to
Mr. G. Bristow, to whose kindness I am indebted for
the privilege of examining the specimen in the flesh."
It was reported that a Eose-coloured Pastor was seen
about the first week in April, 1906, not far from Ham
Street, Orlestone.

CHOUGH 211

Family CORYIDiE.

Genus PYRRHOCORAX, Vieillot.

CHOUGH.

Pi/rrJiocorax graculus (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 158

(1766).
Eed-legged Crow, Boys, 1792.

It is very evident that the Chough, or Eed-legged Crow,
became extinct on the Kentish coast years and years ago.

The only traceable Kentish specimens at present known
to exist are as follows : One in the Maidstone Musemn,
labelled Kent, presented by Mr. G. Simmons, which must
be very old ; and one in the Exeter Museum, from Kent,
the bequest of the Eev. Bower-Scott. Neither of these
two birds have any data attached to them, therefore it is
very difficult to state for certam whether they are genuine
Kentish birds.

Professor Newton, in the last edition of Yarrell's
British Birds, gives the earliest history of the supposed
existence of the Chough in Kent; he says: "Merrett,
in 1667, speaks of it as found ' in omnibus oris maritionis
a cornubia ad Doroberniam,' meaning, no doubt, Dover ;
but it may be noted that another Dorobernia, the city
of Canterbury, bears Choughs in its arms."

Pennant, in his British Zoology, 1776, states : " The
Chough is found in small numbers on Dover Cliff, where
they came by accident. A gentleman in that neighbour-
hood had a pair sent him as a present from Cornwall,
which escaped and stocked those rocks."

Professor Newton again remarks that "no date is
given, but as the passage is not in his earlier editions, we

212 THE BIRDS OP KENT

may infer that the work was recent. Merrett's testimony,
which was possibly unknown to Pennant, induces the
opinion that he was misinformed, or else that his state-
ment refers to a restoration of the species to its old
haunts."

In the Zoologist, 1844, the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
in his Ornithological Notes on tJie Birds of Kent, says :
" These birds are still rarely to be met with in the
neighbourhood of the cliffs at Dover, where in the time
of Shakespeare they were wont ' to wing the midway
air.' But there is every probability that the hissing and
roaring of engines and railway trains will speedily and
for ever scare them from their ancient haunts."

There is no doubt that both the references made by
Shakespeare to the " Crows and Choughs " are meant
for the Jackdaw. So great an observer of Nature as
Shakespeare would never have omitted the red bill and
legs. Therefore, the quotations belong to the grey-naped
Jackdaw. In Mr. J. E. Harting's last edition of the
Handhooh of British Birds, 1901, he states: "In the
Zoologist for September, 1893, I have shown that the
' russet-pated Chough ' of Shakespeare (' Midsummer
Nights' Dream,' iii., 2) was not the red-billed Chough,
but the grey-pated Jackdaw. The latter was commonly
called Chough, and russet with some writers meant grey ;
the head of the Chough, like the rest of its body, is
perfectly black."

NUTCRACKER 213

Genus NUCIFRAGA, Brisson.

NUTCEACKBE.

Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linnaeus). H.N., i.,
p. 157 (1766).

The Nutcracker is an extremely rare and accidental
visitor to this county, and up to the present time only
four instances of its occurrence in Kent are on record.

The first is that which Latham mentions in his
Synopsis, 1781, as " a mutilated skin of which is now in
the house of an acquaintance of mine." There is an
adult specimen in the British Museum, labelled Kent,
presented by Mr. William George.

The following record is given of the third specimen
obtained : —

Becent Occurrence of the Nutcracker in Kent. — " Your
readers will be interested to hear of the recent occurrence
in Kent of the Nutcracker {Nucifraga caryocatactes), a
bird sufficiently rare in this country to deserve notice.
The specimen referred to was shot by me on November
17 (1885), near Eddington. I saw this bird two days
before it was shot, and had good opportunity of observing
its movements, which appear to partake of those of the
Jackdaw and Magpie. It was flying from an elm tree to
the ground, and raking among the fallen leaves with a
sharp busy motion, quite undisturbed by the presence of
myself and a friend, whose attention I called to the
indifference which the bird displayed. Although I spoke
very loudly, to try the effect, no notice was taken, and it
was only the abrupt appearance of a fox-terrier on the
scene that caused the bird to take refuge in the tree
overhead. We were standing within 40 yards, and it

214 THE BIRDS OF KENT

allowed the dog to approach within a yard of it before
taking wing." — Colonel C. Willmot, Eddington Cottage
Eddington, Kent {Zoologist, 1885, p. 480).

In the Standard of January 28, 1886, Colonel Willmot
added the following note respecting the foregoing speci-
men : "I obtained it in Strode Park, Heme, the seat of
Mr. Prescott-Westcar, and on examination it was found
that, although the bird is called a Nutcracker, and pre-
sumably is a nut-eater, its stomach contained more
specimens of small coleoptera than vegetable or other
matter."

The fourth specimen is recorded as follows: "Dr.
N. F. Ticehurst exhibited at a meeting of the British
Ornithologists' Club, on January 18, 1905, a Nutcracker
which had been shot on January 14, 1905, by a game-
keeper at Benenden, in Kent. It was a male by dissec-
tion" {Bulletin of the B.O.C., vol. xv., 1905, p. 31).

Genus GARRULUS, Brisson.

JAY.

Garrulus glanclarius (Linnaeus). >S'.A^., i., p. 156

(1766).
Joy.

In all the old woods and plantations throughout the
county the Jay still holds its own, generally keeping in
pairs. Where the woods are not preserved they are
more abundant and breed more freely, but in the pheasant
preserves it has been found necessary to keep them under,
on account of the destruction of the eggs and young of
the game.

MAGPIE 215

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
says the Jay is " common in the woods, but seldom ven-
turing down near the river. They do not, however, lose
in the slightest degree their habitual caution, but are
ever on the alert, the first thing heard on entering an
orchard being their derisive chatter, uttered as they take
themselves off."

Genus PICA, Brisson.

MAGPIE.

Pica pica (Linnfeus). H.N., i., p. 157 (1766).
Hagister (Kent), Swainsou.

The Magpie is rather a local bird, although in some
districts it is plentiful, and it appears to prefer the large
marshes in the county. Tn years gone by it was ex-
tremely common along the Kentish coast, especially
about the labourers' cottages in the Marshes. Only a
year or two back in one district in Eomney Marsh some
twenty or thirty were killed on account of their depre-
dations, but in the more inland districts they are less
frequent and only found in pairs, breeding in the more
secluded old woods.

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says : " I
have a word to say for the Magpie, so persecuted by
sportsmen and farmers, that it is a wonder he is not
exterminated. True, he will rob the hen of her brood,
and appears insatiable in his appetite for a time ; but it
is only while rearing their young that they are so de-
structive ; at other times they are great destroyers of
mice and insects."

216 THE BIRDS OF KENT

111 1902, when collecting at New Komney and Little-
stone, Mr. E. F. M. Elms remarks: "Komney Marsh
is hardly suitable to the requirements of the crafty Mag-
pie, as, comparatively speaking, it is a somewhat treeless
district ; but nevertheless a pair were observed, and the
nest located. This was built about 8 feet from the
ground in the thickest part of a hedgerow running along
the side of the road, and was composed of stoutish twigs
and the usual formidable thorns. To those who once
believed in the two species of Magpies — the one that
built in a tree, and the other that placed its nest in a
bush — this present case would doubtless furnish sub-
stantial evidence of a difference. The nest under con-
sideration contained four of the usual eggs disposed
synnnetrically around a large stone."

In 1902 a hundred Magpies were killed by Mr.
Balston's keepers in the neighbourhood of Ham Street
and Euckinge, out of which seventy were destroyed on
the borders of the Marsh.

Genus CORYUS, LinncPus.
JACKDAW.

Corvus monedula, Linnsus. S.N., i., p. 156
(1766).

Daw.

There are few old castles, churches, or large hollow
trees, that are not made the home of the Jackdaw, in
fact, he will make himself at home among the chimneys
of our large modern buildings in the county towns and
villages. The bird is plentiful in certain districts which

JACKDAW 217

possess the necessary positions for its bulky nest, and
when once it takes a fancy to a chimney, it will carry a
barrow full of material to stop it up. The Jackdaws
associate in large numbers in all the chalk-pits and
chalk-cliffs in Kent, and it was from the Dover Cliffs
that Shakespeare observed this bird, and wrote the
following lines : —

" The Crows and Choughs that wing the midway air
Sliow scarce so gross as beetles."

— King Lear, Act iv., Sc. 6.

Writing on the audacity of Jackdav/s, Mr. W. Oxenden
Hammond says: " They abound here (Wingham) in the
old trees, and have become so mischievous, destroying
all the Blackbirds', Thrushes' and other eggs (to say
nothing of game), that, rather reluctantly, I ordered their
number to be reduced. The next day, or nearly so, my
shepherd saw a Jackdaw plunder a Kestrel's nest near
the house, that I have each year tried to protect, and
take the eggs. The bird dropped one, and in order to
identify it, I directed the man to bring me the broken
egg-shell, which he did, and I found it to be a Kestrel's.
This attack on a hawk's nest, although the Kestrel is
not a bold bird, still shows a Jackdaw's audacity to be
considerable."

These birds build in the large chalk-pits on Boxley
Hill, and they became very troublesome in the egg-
stealing line. They used to steal the wild-fowls'^
eggs from the pond at Boxley Abbey. They breed in
all the old churches in and about Maidstone, and they
have not overlooked Canterbury Cathedral. According
to Mr. T. Hepburn, there is a "thriving colony in the
ruins of Camber Castle."

218 THE BIRDS OF KENT

CAEEION-CROW.

Corviis corone, Linnaens. S.N., i., p. 155 (1766).
Crow, Boys, 1792 ; Black Crow.

The Black or Carrion- Crow is decidedly a scarce
bird in most parts of Kent, and being an extremely wary
bird, keeps out of gunshot. They have been observed
for some time, but only in isolated pairs, and do not
associate with the Books or Jackdaws. They generally
select a place for the nest in a secluded spot, and in
which they feel secure. A nest was built in a large elm
tree on the banks of the Royal Military Canal in Eomney
Marsh, and Mr. E. T. Fihner says a pair, in 1900, built
a nest close to his house at Orlestone. INIr. H. Lamb
states that a pair used to breed at Langley, near Maid-
stone. Dr. A. G. Butler obtained the eggs at Iwade,
near Sheppey, and also at Murston, in 1875.

There is no doubt respecting the destructive habits of
this bird, hence its rarity.

HOODED CEOW.

Corvus comix, Liniicieus. S.N., i., p. 156 (1766).

Hooded Crow, Boys, 1792 ; Kentisli Crow, Grey
Crow, Queenborougii or Eoystoii Crow, Dun Crow.

This species is only an autumn and winter visitor to
the county of Kent, and appears to keep generally to the
seashore and the large river banks of the county, rarely
going inland, unless driven by the scarcity of food.
According to Mr. W. H. Power, "this crow is exceed-

HOODED CROW '219

ingly common during the winter months, arriving about
the second week in October, and leaving again early in
the spring, although my brother once saw one as late
as April 18. These birds roost at night in the woods,
and at first streak of dawn wend their way to the
marshes, where they generally remain until dusk. In
foggy weather they take to the orchards, and are then
somewhat less difficult to approach. A ' sprat field ' is,
however, their delight ; here they gorge themselves ;
indeed, they are not at all particular in their food,
little coming amiss to their stomachs, from live crabs to
dead sheep. In 1868 Mr. F. D. Power observed one on
October 1, and by the end of the second week they were
numerous." Lord Clifton states that on October 6,
1876, he " saw the first Hooded Crow here (Cobham,
Kent) three days earlier than I ever saw one before."
It is a regular visitor to the Stour Marshes, according
to Mr. G. Dowker. It was obtained at Pluckley on
October 12, 1897, and this specimen is now in the Maid-
stone Museum. It is included in the birds of Bethersden
by Captain J. D. Cameron. It is plentiful in winter on
the banks and marshes of the Medway below Aylesford,
according to Mr. H. Elgar. It was not until October 19,
1905, that the Hooded Crow was seen near Lympne.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds of North
Kent, states that the "earliest date I have noted of
seeing the Hooded Crow in the autumn is October 21,
1900, and the latest date in spring is April 21, 1900 ;
but a closer observation than I am able to keep would
no doubt give more exceptional dates. It is a common
sight to see both Hooded and Carrion-Crows feeding out
on the mud-flats, amongst Gulls and other birds, at
low tide."

220 THE BIRDS OF KENT

EOOK.

Corvus frugilegus, Linntens. 8.N.^ i., p. 156 (1766).
Eook, Boys, 1792.

The Kook is extremely abundant throughout the
county, and in the autumn and winter may be observed
in hundreds on all the pastures, especially among the
cattle and flocks of sheep. During this season they
travel long distances from the rookeries and visit the
marshes and sea-coast, but in spring they usually keep
to the land surrounding the rookeries until the young
are able to follow their parents. There is scarcely a park
or private plantation in Kent without its rookery, which
are too numerous to be given here. They nearly always
select the highest elms for the nests, and in a position of
perfect safety, but occasionally they have been known
to take possession of large isolated Scotch fir trees.

Mr. A. Skinner {Zoologist, 1869) mentions a variety of
the Kook : " As I was walking round Chilham Park one
day in the summer (1868),! perceived something black on
the road, which proved to be a dead Eook with a white
throat, besides the ordinary black plumage."

A curious instance of the Eooks having neglected a
certain district, and then taking it up, is given by Mr. G.
Dowker in his Birds of East Kent: " The Eooks have of
late taken up their abode in this parish, why or where-
fore they never came before I cannot imagine, there
being a toll of elm trees on the glebe next the church,
which the late Eector kept most carefully secluded ; and
he was most anxious to get a rookery. However, the
Eooks never came till just after his death, a few years
ago. With the new Eector came the Eooks, though

ROOK 221

they do not receive half the protection they would have
formerly enjoyed."

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Rainham says:
" Taking my farm as a criterion of the Book's usefulness,
throughout the summer I see but few, but when I begin
to sow the wheat in the autumn they come by thousands,
and continue doing so, off and on, throughout the winter,
leaving soon after the barley is sown in the spring.
Now if those persons who support a rookery, and where
Rooks superabound, were to feed them with several sacks
of corn per day, they would then know the worth of the
depredators they harbour and encourage." In the Fauna
of the " Cedars," Lee, Kent, J. F. Green, Esq., gives the
following : " The rookery here is a very ancient affair.
The Rooks commence to repair their nests in February,
which through the winter months have been used by
Tits and other small birds to roost in. I could relate
plenty of stories about their peculiarities, but will confine
myself to two. In February, 1901, we started hockey
for the first time on the cricket-ground. The large elms
overshadowing the ground contained the usual Rooks'
nest ; but the busy occupants failed to appreciate this
innovation, and moved all their nests bodily across the
railway to the other side of the grounds. The Rooks
(with other birds) are fed every mornitig on the " Cedars "
lawn. One Sunday this was forgotten, and I saw a
small detachment of the boldest spirits march up to the
drawing-room window and commence tapping. A sort
of gentle reminder ! With them I often see, and still
oftener hear, a pair of Carrion-Crows."

Notes on the Rook [Corvus frugilegus). — " Tonbridge,
March 22, 1857 : There is a rookery in some lofty elm
trees close to the town. Observed this morning their

222 THE BIRDS OF KENT

manner of building, one rook remaining to guard the nest
whilst its partner flew off in search of building material ;
but I remarked that, instead of picking up dead twigs
or sticks, it set to work to break off green ones. After
having secured two, which it retained in its beak, it
endeavoured to break off a third, but failing in doing so,
as it was not only a green but a strong twig, the Rook
threw itself back so as to bring its whole weight to bear,
not, however, relinquishing its hold of the branch on
which it stood, extending its wings at the same time, so
as to add force to the pull : by this means it eventually
succeeded in dragging or slipping it off, although its
utmost powers had previously failed in breaking it.
There were two other nests on the same branch, one
indeed, almost touching the first, and I counted about
thirty in a more or less forward state, but few, I think,
were complete ; consequently, it would appear that rooks
are rather backward with their building this season, as
White tells us they begin as early as February 16 ;
Macgillivray mentions the same date, and Markwich
February 28. March 27 : Had another look at the
rookery this afternoon. Found the nests were beginning
to make more show, but, from the great clamour and
commotion that prevailed, I am inclined to think few
out of the number can yet be ready to receive eggs. I
witnessed several skirmishes, besides a general assault
made on a half- finished nest, which Was not only covered
with the assailants, but surrounded by them for some
time. I observed one of the unfortunate Kooks defend-
ing its aerial castle most stoutly, indeed furiously, chng-
ing to it with the greatest tenacity, never once quitting
its hold, emitting, at the same time, an angry, hissing
kind of noise, which might have been heard at a con-

ROOK 223

siderable distance. What the culprit had been about I
could only conjecture, but probably it had been caught,
or rather detected, in the act of robbing one of its neigh-
bours, but as Rooks are notoriously a thievish race, I was
not prepared for such a general and public display of
virtuous indignation, proving, however, the old adage
true, that there is even honour among thieves.
March 31 : In passing the rookery I observed the Rooks
were as quarrelsome as ever, frequent fights taking place,
even upon the nests, so that had they contained eggs
they must, I think, have been either broken or thrown
out. I noticed several Rooks, evidently paired, on the
branches close to and immediately over the nests— a
proof that they could not have contained their full com-
plement of eggs, or one of the birds would have been
sitting upon them. Rooks are exceedingly clumsy birds,
for they even roll about in walking, and their oscillation
on first alighting on the branches is very remarkable, and
in flying into the trees they often miss the branch on
which they had endeavoured to perch, thereby dropping
several feet lower into the tree than they had intended ;
and even when seated they are a few seconds balancing
themselves to and fro, with wings extended and their
heads depressed. This awkwardness may, I think, partly
arise from the great size and weight of the head and bill,
as well as from the shortness and rigidity of the claws,
which certainly appear better adapted for walking than
for grasping the branches of trees." — H. W. Hadfield,
Tonbridge {Zoologist, 1856, p. 5682).

224 THE BIRDS OF KENT

EAVEN.

Corvus corax, Linnteus. S.N., i., p. 155 (1766).
Eaven, Boys, 1792.

The scarcity of the Eaven in Kent is not to be
wondered at, considering its depredations ; all who know
the bird are its enemies, and its chance of escape when
found is very limited. During the last century it has
become almost extinct in the county, and must now be
looked upon as a rare visitor.

In the Topography of Maidstone, 1839, it is noticed
that " some of this species at intervals make their appear-
ance at different places in this neighbourhood, as is their
habit elsewhere, and after a time disappear."

Mr. J. J. Briggs, writing in August, 1<S.52, says : " This
bird I met with near St. Margaret's Bay, Kent, in June,
1852. I am told it breeds aimually on the highest parts
of the cliffs, generally on the same rock, but not on the
same ledge."

Lord Clifton, in his notes on the birds at Cobham,
Kent, September 4, 1868, writes : " In the same wood
I heard and saw a Eaven on September 3, 1868; it
was the first I had seen for a long time ; one ancient pair
were shot on account of their annoying" the Herons so
much."

The Eev. C. H. Fielding, in his Hand-hook of Higham,
1882, says : " It used to be found in the marshes, but is
now probably extinct " ; and Mr. G. Dowker says; " The
Eaven is becoming almost as rare as the Chough in the
Stourmouth district." They were destroyed at Cobham
for attacking the Heronry. A pair were shot in Eomney
Marsh, near Lydd, some years ago, and are now in the

SKY-LARK 225

collection of E. J. Balston, Esq. According to Mr. W.

Prentis, " the Raven is by no means common, our

shepherds proclaim eternal war against them." On
April 19, 190G, a Raven was seen to come up from

Romney Marsh, and pass over in the direction of
Bilsington.

Family ALAUDID^.

Genus ALAUDA, Linnaeus.
SKY-LARK.

Alanda arvensis, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 287 (1766).

The abundance and the song of the Sky-Lark is well
known to all lovers of birds throughout the county.
During the summer, what is more delightful than to
sit down and watch and hear the Sky-Lark ascend
on wing, singing its joyous song until almost out of
sight.

In Kent, during the autumn, they collect in the
marshes in large flocks and travel south, leaving many
on the land. No doubt these are the birds that have
bred in the locality, and remain throughout the winter,
but not in large numbers.

They have been noticed to leave East Kent in the
winter in large numbers and reappear about the second
week of February.

On the afternoon of June 19, 1875, a Lark was seen
to perch on a stake of an old hedge at Cuzinton Farm,
Kent, and it was heard to sing while there.

Mr. J. Fremlyn Streatfield, of Chart's Edge, Wester-
ham, records that on July 9, 1845, " a Lark's nest was
15

226 THE BIRDS OF KENT

discovered in a field in which some cows, being tethered,
had eaten the pasture close to it, but had left a tuft
around it, in which the bird remained unharmed and
unconcerned."

Dr. A. G. Butler writes : " The mother-bird displays
considerable persistency in attending to her young, and
is very careful in concealing her nest as much as possible.
A remarkable instance of this came under my notice some
years ago, when visiting the Isle of Sheppey. Happening
to meet a shepherd, I asked him if he ever met with
Larks' nests ; he led me back about 3 yards, and
pointed to a patch of water-weed at the edge of the
path as a nest. I stooped down and found that the
weed was regularly interlaced in the edge of the nest,
over which it fell, completely concealing it."

In his ornithological notes from Romney Marsh,
Captain Boyd Alexander states that " on June 16, 1896,
two Sky-Larks' nests were found in a meadow, contain-
ing four and two eggs respectively, perfectly white —
a variety which is identical with the texture of the
Kingfisher's egg. The nest of four eggs was quite good,
but the other had been deserted."

While collecting on the beach at Dungeness in 1900,
Mr. T. Hepburn says : " May 10 to 14 : The Sky-Larks
were nesting everywhere in great numbers, even right
out on the open beach. July 20 : Found a nest with
two eggs in it, and was told of one being found the
previous week containing eight eggs. May 18, 1902 :
Sky-Larks exceedingly numerous ; in fact, this species,
the Meadow-Pipit and the Wheatear were the most
numerous birds in this district. Found a Sky-Lark's
nest built in a hollow among a heap of stones on the
roadside, containing four much incubated eggs. This

WOOD-LAEK 227

species nested freely in convenient natural depressions
sheltered by the grass growing at the sides of the road.
In the afternoon, whilst walking at the side of the
road, I almost trod on the parent bird, who flew up
from my feet, disclosing four newly hatched chicks. A
repetition of the same thing occurred a few yards further
on, the nest containing three fresh eggs ; and yet another
with four fresh eggs. Besides these, several empty nests
were discovered."

In the Zoologist, 1847, Mr. Edward H. M. Sladen drew
attention to an article which appeared in the Kentish
Gazette, February 2, 1847, respecting a new species of
Lark, which had been found near Margate, and described
under the name of Alauda isabeUina by Mr. S. Mummery.
These birds were merely buff or cream-coloured ordinary
Sky-Larks.

WOOD-LAEK.

Alauda arhorea, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 287 (1766).

The Wood-Lark is a scarce bird during the summer in
Kent, and it does not appear to breed in any numbers in
the county. From observations made they are more
abundant during the winter, when driven down from the
north.

Lord Clifton, writing to the Zoologist, 1867, says :
"During the first severe snow here (Cobham) flocks of
Larks were continually passing over the park. The
birds I imagine to have been Wood-Larks. I never
could find out that they settled anywhere ; all I know is
that they were continually passing over my head in a
south-westerly direction ; as they flew over me I noticed

228 THE BIRDS OF KENT

that they seemed short, compact birds, and that the tail
was short — shorter, I should say, than any Sky-Lark's tail.
The breast appeared to be of a pure white ground colour,
the spots not being visible at such an altitude ; while on
the throat there was a very thick and distinctly marked
cluster of dark red spots. I consulted Mr. Harting's book
as to the distinction between the two species, and was
tolerably satisfied as to my birds being Wood-Larks ; but
what exactly gave me the idea of them was the figure
of the Wood-Lark in Our Native Songsters. I saw one
passing over on January 8, and two on January 14 (1868) ;
one of the latter, which I more particularly noticed,
seemed to be very dark-coloured."

Mr. G. Dowker states that in the Stourmouth district
the Wood-Lark " comes in flocks in the winter." On
March 10, 1906, four or five of these birds were seen
above Kuckinge, apparently on their return and going
north.

In the Maidstone Museum there is a nest and egg
procured by Mr. J. Coveney at Hollingbourne, Kent.

CEESTED LAEK.

Alaada cridata, Limic^us. 8.N., i., p. "288 (1766).

The Crested Lark is evidently a rare, accidental visitor
to the county, and the only records of its occurrence in
Kent are taken from the Zoologist, 1867, p. 1167. On
June 1 Mr. M. Hutchinson wrote stating that he had
seen a " Crested Lark " near Blackheath, and the sub-
joined are particulars of the —

Supposed Breeding of the Crested Lark in Kent. —
"Among the oological discoveries this year, none is

CRESTED LARK 229

perhaps likely to evoke more interest than the eggs of
the Crested Lark (Alauda crista ta), taken in Eomney
Marsh on June 7, and subsequently purchased by nie
at Steven's Auction Rooms. The recorded evidence of
the breeding of this bird in England having hitherto
been confined to one alleged instance, at Ibiston, near
Cambridge, in 1881 {Zoologist, 1883, p. 178), ornithologists
will doubtless be glad to hear of a well-authenticated case,
the parent birds having been seen by Mr. Sydney Webb,
as well as by Mr. George Gray, a well-known naturalist,
at Dover. I quote from a letter addressed to Mr. Stevens
by Mr. Webb on Mr. Gray's behalf, and sold with the
eggs : ' Mr. Gray, of this town (Dover), who is an
ornithologist and taxidermist, having been informed by
some lads, who had been watching birds for him, that
they had discovered a nest of eggs which they did not
know, we were led to the spot, but only to find one young
bird hatched out, one broken ego;, and one addled ; the
latter you now have. Scarcely bad the egg passed from
hand to hand when one of the boys called out, " There's
the old one ; look at his top-knot ! " And sure enough,
we saw a living Crested Lark close to us. There could
be no mistake, the long crest reclining backwards. Crane-
like, quite unlike an ordinary Lark's raised crest.' It is
curious also that the birds made a second nest, from
which another egg was obtained early in August. This
also passed into my hands." — C. A. Briggs (55, Lincoln's
Inn Fields).

Mr. G. Dowker states that a Crested Lark was obtained
at Rainham, on the authority of the late Mr. C. Gordon,
of Dover.

230 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus CALANDRELLA, Kaiip.
SHOET-TOED LAEK.

Calandrella hracJiijdacfijIa (Leisler).
Ann. d. Weft. Ges. f. d. ges. Nat., iii., p. 357 (1814)..

With regard to the Short-toed Lark in Kent, which
is, perhaps, one of the rarest accidental visitors, and the
subject of some httle doubt as to its occurrence in the
county, it is well to note that Mr. J. E. Harting
enumerates ten which, without hesitation, have been
taken in England, therefore it is highly probable that
the specimen referred to by Mr. Theo. Fisher in the
Zoologist (1885, p. 31) was a Kentish specimen. He
says : " Passing, by chance, a bird-catcher's shop, I
stepped in to ask the owner if he had ever caught any
rare birds. He told me that in June, 1883, he had caught,
near Orpington, in Kent, a peculiar Lark which no bird-
stuffer or bird-catcher of his acquaintance had been able
to name. The bird died, but he had it preserved, and
showed it to me, when I found it to be the Short-toed
Lark, Alauda hrachydactijla, Leisler. The bird-catcher
kept it for some time, and it soon became accustomed to
confinement, but, unfortunately, died soon after complet-
ing its moult. 'Its song,' he remarked, 'resembled that
of a Skylark, but was more varied." "

The only other record is given by Mr. G. Dowker in
his Birds of East Kent, viz. : " I give this on the authority
of Mr. G. P. Saville, that a specimen was shot by Mr.
W. Fleet, at AVells Court, Blean, in 1886."

WHITE-WINGED LARK 231

Genus MELANOCORYPHA, Boie.

WHITE-WINGED LARK.

Melanocoryplia sibirica (Gmelin). S.N., i., p. 799

(1788).

" On January 27 a male, and on January 28 a female,
of this species were shot by a man named Ward at Wood-
church, in Kent, and subsequently exhibited by Dr. N. F.
Ticehurst at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club
{Bulletin of the B.O.C., xii., p. 50) ; a third individual
was seen but not procured. These were the first records
of this bird in the county of Kent.

" At a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, held
on October 22, 1902, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited a
male White-winged Lark {Alauda sibirica). This was
the third of the birds mentioned above as having been
with the pair that were shot at Woodchurch in Kent.
It was constantly seen there, but being very wild was
not obtained until March 22, 1902. It differed from the
male previously recorded in being brighter on the head
and wing-coverts and in having much more white on
the throat and breast."

BLACK LARK.

Melanocoryjplia 2jeltonie7isis(FoYsteY). Phil. Trans.,
Ivii., p. 350 (1767).

During the severe weather of January, 1907, the un-
expected occurrence of the Black Lark {Melanocorijpha
yeltoniensis) in Kent was made known by Mr. C. B.
Ticehurst, who exhibited a male and female at a meeting

232 THE BIRDS OF KENT

of the British Ornithologists' Club, held on February 20,
1907. He wrote: "The female was brought to me in
the flesh on February 2, 1907, by Mr. Bristow, who had
just received it by post from Lydd, Kent, where it had
been shot on January 81. It was accompanied by a
male and two females, and the man who shot it aimed
at the male bird as being a stranger to him, but the
shot killed the female. Since these two were obtained
I hear from my brother that another male was shot at
Lydd, Kent, on February 18, and another at Eye,
Sussex, on February 16, and that others have been
seen " {Bulletin of the B.O.C., xix., p. 57, 1907).

Genus OTOCORYS, Bonaparte.

SHOEE-LAEK.

Otocorijs alpestris (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 289
(1766).

The Shore-Lark appears to be a frequent visitor to the
coast of Kent, and many examples have been secured at
various times during the autumn and winter.

In Yarrell's British Birds he states that " before
November, 1838, I had heard of a pair that were obtained
together on a down in Kent, the male only of w4iich was
preserved.

Occurrence of the Shore-Lark at Woolwich. — "A week
or two ago I went into a small bird-stuffer's shop here,
and whilst conversing with the owner he informed me
that a workman in the dockyard at Sheerness had, during
the cold weather last February (1861), shot five specimens
of what he called the American Lark. Upon his describ-

SHORE-LARK '233

ing them, however, I made out that they could not be
that species, being too small, having a crest on the head,
and various other distinctions, by no means characteristic
of the American Lark. The man said that the only bird
which he thought in any way resembled them was the
Girl Bunting ; so I was somewhat curious to find out
what these remarkable individuals really were. In my
own mind I set them down as being the Shore Lark, if
any species of Almida at all; and as my friend kindly
offered to get them for me to look at, I did not refuse,
and a few days ago called on him again, when he showed
me five specimens of Alaiida alpestris, Linn. So I had
guessed rightly. There were apparently two adult males,
one female, and two immature or young birds ; all, except
the latter, in very good condition. There is no doubt as
to the fact of the birds being shot in the neighbourhood
of Sheerness, as the person who killed them was quite
unaware what he had shot, and only skinned them (in
not a very scientific manner) because he thought them
pretty, uncommon-looking birds. I am not aware if any
others were shot in Kent or elsewhere last winter." —
G. F. Mathews, July 16, 1861 {Zoologist, 1861, p. 7708).
Shore-Lark in Captivity. — " I have in \uy possession
a Shore-Lark (Alatida aljjestris), which was taken in a
net under the cliff near Dover. With the specimen of
Richard's Pipit previously recorded in the Zoologist (S.S.,
p. 1458) as having been captured near here, it is intended
to be added to our collection of Kentish birds. The bird
is now to be seen in its cage in lively and healthy con-
dition. The food given is canary and hemp seed, which
it eats freely and thrives upon. It is a n:ale bird, and I
intend, if possible, to keep it alive, in the hope of hearing
its song. The markings are very brilliant (see descrip-

234 THE BIRDS OF KENT

tion in YarreU, vol. i., p. 402). I believe this is the first
known instance of the Shore-Lark having been captured
alive in England." — Charles Gordon, November 23, 1868
{Zoologist, 18G9, p. 1513).

Writing to the Zoologist in 18^3, the late Mr. AV.
Oxenden Hammond says : " Having heard that a bird-
catcher in this district had been catching some Shore-
Larks in November last (1882), I went to his house to
see them. He had then three, taken about two daj'S
before my visit, and these were supplemented by four
more, seven in all, about a week later." Some of these
specimens are now in the Canterbury Museum.

Family CYPSELID^ffi.

Genus CYPSELUS, Iliiger.
8WIFT.

Cypsehis apus (Liiin?eus). fi.N., i., p. 344 (1766).

Swift, Boys, 1792 ; Screecher, Squeaker, and
Screech-Owl.

The Swift is usuall}^ a late arrival in Kent, but after
the warm weather sets in at the end of May they become
very abundant in all the districts in which they have
found suitable breeding places. These breeding places
are, as is well known, generally in the roofs of old build-
ings, especially churches and lofty houses, around which
these birds circle and gambol in their everlasting flight.

The following curious instances of the effects of the
cliiuatic changes of the atmosphere on the Swift are
given by Mr. F. Smith in the Zoologist, 1856 : " On
Tuesday, July 8, I was at Deal ; the early part of the

SWIFT 235

day was warm, but a continuous drizzling rain fell ; this,
however, did not prevent Swallows and Swifts from
hunting after their prey much as usual. Towards even-
ing a sudden atmospheric change took place ; the ther-
mometer fell rapidly ; it became so cold that an overcoat
was not uncomfortable. Sitting at the window, and
amusing myself by watching the Swifts, which were very
numerous, I was struck by observing that their flight
was unsteady ; they fluttered up against the walls of the
houses, and I saw several even fly into open windows.
Whilst observing these occurrences a girl came to the
door to ask me if I wanted to buy a bat. She had heard,
she told me, that I bought all kinds of bugs, and her
mother thought I might want a bat. On her producing
it, I was astonished to find it was a poor benumbed Swift.
The girl told me they were dropping down in the streets,
and the boys were killing all the bats; the church, she
said, was covered with them. Off I started to witness
this strange sight and slaughter. True enough, the
children were charging them everywhere, and on arriving
at the church in Lower Street, I was astonished to see
the poor birds hanging in clusters from the eaves and
cornices; some clusters were at least 2 feet in length,
and at intervals benumbed individuals dropped from the
outside of the clusters. Many hundreds of the poor birds
fell victims to the ruthless ignorance of the children."
On September 1, 1876, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., wrote :
" The boisterous weather of yesterday, accompanied by
much cold and rain, appears to have had an effect on the
Swifts at Dover. Many have flown into houses and been
captured by hand this day (September 1), as I am
informed by Mr. Gray, the taxidermist, to whom some
were brought, and at whose house I saw two. I do not

•28(3 THE BIRDS OF KENT

think this is unusual with Swifts. It is well known they
are very susceptible of cold, more so than the Swallow,
as is proved by their coming later and leaving earlier.
Mr. Gray mentioned to me, as a remarkable instance of
the feebleness to which they can occasionally be reduced,
that once the walls of St. Mary's Church, in Dover, were
covered with them, hanging in great clusters, seemingly
incapable of exerting their powers of flight."

In Birds of Bainham, by Mr. W. H. Power, he says :
" The Swift was first seen this year (18G.5) on May 8,
This bird is not common in the neighbourhood, there
being no suitable breeding-place for them except the
church-tower. Noticed them beginning to collect in
flocks about July 13. I saw one this year as late as
September 7."

Mr. G. F. Mathews says: "I noticed a Swift here
(Sheerness) on September 15. Surely this i.: very late ? "
Mr. Boyd Alexander, in his notes in the Birds of Kent,
says: "The Swifts also fly in batches, circling round
high trees and towers alike. The shrill sound of the
ceaseless screaming of their voices fitfully strikes one's
ear as these weird-looking birds, with their curved wings,
sharply quivering, cut through the air, and swinging
round the trees with such hne tact and precision that
they hardly as much as tickle or scrape the leaves' smooth
surface." In the Orlestone district the Swift w'as first
observed on May 14, 1902.

In the Zoologist, 1904, Mr. E. P. Butterfield, in his
ornithological notes, mentions : " As I was leaving my
brother's residence on Shooter's Hill, Plumstead, early
one morning about the third week in June, he pointed
out to me a pair of Swifts, which were breeding in the
nest of a House-Martin."

NIGHTJAR 237

WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT.

Cypselus inelha (Liniiceus). >S'.A^., i., p. 44-3 (170(3).
Alpine Swift.

There are three records of the occarrencc of this
species in Kent.

The first White-beUied Swift was shot in the Isle of
Thanet in June, 1820, by E. Holford, Esq.'s, bailiff. This
bird, according to Professor Xewton in Yarrell's British
Birds, was seen by Mr. J. Gould in 1832, and it subse-
quently passed into the possession of Mr. E. B. Hale,
who lent it for the illustration of the above work.

The second specimen (Notebook of a Naturalist, p. 22G)
flew into a room at Dover on August 20, 1830, and was
secured ; and Professor Newton says this statement was
not pubhshed till 1845.

Mr. J. H. Gurney (Zoologist, 1886, p. 5046), after
giving a short notice of this species, says : " While
writing on this bird, I may as well mention a specimen
which has not been recorded, which was seen by the
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett in Kent, in June, 1871."

Family CAPRIMULGID^.

Genus CAPRIMULGUS, Linnteus.

NIGHTJAE.

Caprimulgus europcEUS, Linnaeus. >S'.A^., i., p. 340

(1766).

Goatsucker, Boys, 1792 ; Night-Hawk, Fern-Owl.

In the more open woods in Kent the Night-Hawk, as
it is usually called, makes its home, but is by no means

*238 THE BIRDS OF KENT

plentiful, arriving in the county at the end of May and
early part of June, in pairs. After taking up a position
for breeding they can always be found, and in the even-
ing they will circle round one, uttering loud and jarring
notes of alarm, and keep on following, to draw you away
until you are far from the eggs, which are very difficult
to find.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett records the fol-
lowing : — •

Notes on the Goatsucker or Night-Hawk. — " In the
month of July I had brought to me a pair of Night-
Hawks, as Goatsuckers are provincially termed in Keiit.
They were quite young, and had been found at the
foot of a tree with an egg, which was also brought to
me. It is generally supposed that the Goatsucker lays
only two eggs ; this, however, was an instance to the
contrary. Being desirous of rearing them, I fed them
with flies and other insects, which at first they appeared
to thrive on, but after a little, from some cause I could
never quite understand, they began to droop, and finding
they were gradually sinking I killed and stuffed them.
AVishing to obtain a specimen of the full-grown birds, I
proceeded one evening to the wood from which the young
ones had been taken, and after waiting a short time I
observed a pair of Goatsuckers (probably the parent
birds) hawking round an oak close to the spot described
to me as the place the young had been found in. I
succeeded in shooting them both, and found they were
male and female ; they are now with the young ones
in my cabinet.

" It is perhaps needless to remark, that this bird
derives its name from the ancient and ignorant idea that
it sucked goats, which is in the same degree probable

NIGHTJAR 239

as that hedge-hogs performed the same kind office for
cows. Although not a rare bird, yet from its habit of
flying only in the evening and at daybreak it is not very
generally observed. There is something very peculiar in
the appearance of the Goatsucker when sleeping in the
day. I recollect once shooting at what appeared to be
a rat crouching on the large arm of a high cherry tree,
but which, upon its falling to the ground, proved to be a
Goatsucker. It is a constant habit of these birds to
perch lengthways, with their heads lowest, that is, in-
wards to the tree. They are not unfrequently found
squatting on stone heaps, where they look not unlike a
lump of old wood or bark covered with lichens. There
is a peculiarity about the foot of the goatsucker, the
middle claw being serrated, the exact use of which has
not, I believe, been accurately determined. White thought
it was to assist the bird in taking its prey, he having
observed it take beetles with its claws and convey them
to its mouth. Wilson, on the other hand, supposed this
claw was used as a comb to keep in order the bristles
which grow on either side of the upper mandible. While
others imagine it to be used for the same purpose as the
pectinated claw of the Night-Heron (Nycticorax europ(Bus)
namely, to free the bird from vermin in those parts which
it is unable to reach with its bill. Is it improbable that
it may be used for all these purposes ?

" Goatsuckers arrive in this part of Kent about the
second week in May, and generally take their departure
by the beginning of September. Their common note
is somewhat between hissing and buzzing, which has
been said to be in imitation of the low notes of beetles.
As I was returning home between 11 and 12 o'clock one
brilliant moonlight night in August last, my attention was

240 THE BIRDS OF KENT

attracted to a bird which flew up before me from the
road. I soon discovered it was a Goatsucker. It several
times settled at no great distance, and I observed that it
lay almost flat in the road. I at first supposed the cause
of its settling to be that it might the more easily dissect
some large beetle, but upon watching it I found it was
evidently dusting itself, after the manner of domestic
fowls. I am not aware if this trait in the character of
this bird has been noted. So far from the Goatsucker
deserving" the bad character which was so long attached
to it, I cannot but look upon it as a bird which renders
more service to man than at first sight it appears to do,
as it must not be forgotten that the larva of the majority
of the insects on which it subsists are very destructive
to the roots and buds of many plants and trees. I have
found its eggs — nest it has none ; these are generally
placed in a wood or shaw', at the foot of a tree or bush,
on a few dried leaves or grass, whichever may happen
to be on the spot " {Zoologist, 1844).

In the Zoologist, 1852, Mr. W. H. Thomas wrote the
subjoined particulars respecting the habits of the Fern
Owl, or Goatsucker, in Kent : —

" Song of the Fern-Owl. — The first time that I heard
the song of the Fern-Owl to perfection was one fine,
w'arm summer's night. In the afternoon of June 25,
1828, I had at ease walked away from the incessant
noise and din of the great metropolis, to enjoy mj'self
in scenes far more congenial to my mind. Avoiding
as much as possible the dusty roads, I struck across
the Lewisham Road at the parish boundary post, over
the hilly fields, to Lady Well and Lewisham Church ;
again across the Tonbridge Road, up the long lane by
Hither Green, then into the great road again near

NIGHTJAR 241

Southend ; continuing on the road until I crossed some
fields on the left hand, I arrived at a beautiful meadow,
bounded on two sides by thick, tangled wood, in a rather
wild part of the country, between Bromley and Chisle-
hurst, Kent. The grass had been cut, and the hay made
into large heaps or cocks, ready for carrying. By the
time I had reached this place the sun had gone down
in all its glorious splendour. Not caring about returning
to town the same night, and there being no place nearer
than Bromley where I could lodge, and besides, being
unwilling to enter a public-house, I determined to pass
the night in the field where I was. Night came on
apace, and I had seen no human face since I entered
the meadow ; so I set to work and made two of the
hay-cocks into one large heap, at a short distance from
the wood-side : and then, mole-like, burrowed into the
middle of the hay, just leaving my head outside for a
little fresh air, and free for any observations I might
have occasion to make, as well as to watch the course
of the moon, which had risen in unclouded beauty. Here,
then, was a soft, warm, and deliciously sweet-scented bed,
made in quick time ; and I had not rested long before
I found it necessary to throw off a layer or two of my
fragrant covering, for I began to get too hot. At length
sleep overcame me, but how long I had remained in that
state, when I awoke, I cannot say ; I had a confused idea
of elves, spirits, fairies, and such-like imaginary beings
haunting me in my sleep.

" I had not long been again settled on my grassy couch,
reflecting upon my wild fantastic dream, with all its
attendant revelry, when my attention was drawn to the
singular, wild, ringing strain of the Fern-Owl; it resem-
bled at times the whirring, rapid rotation of a wheel, now
16

242 THE BIRDS OF KENT

swelling, now diminishing, the sounds intermixed with
chnrring and croaking notes, some of the sounds having
a ventriloquial effect : there was now and then a sharp,
unearthly kind of shriek. Presently there were the same
sounds issuing from other quarters of the wood, until the
W'hole place was ringing with the wild nocturnal notes.
As day-break advanced, I could see the Fern-Owls (there
were at least from four to six birds) hawking for moths,
chasing and pursuing each other, and sweeping along
with surprising sudden turns and tumblings. As I sat
motionless, with my head just above the surface of the
hay-cock, I had a good view of their proceedings ; the
birds were continually snapping at the numerous small
moths which were hovering over the heaps of hay. The
birds are not very shy when pursuing their prey, for they
would glide along close to me ; amidst the gloom one
could see them looming in certain positions, as a ship at
sea is sometimes to be seen in the night-time. At times
the Fern-Owls would suddenly appear close to me as if
by magic, and then shoot off, like meteors passing
through the air.

" The spectral and owl-like appearance, the noiseless,
wheeling flight of the birds as they darted by, would
almost persuade one that he was on enchanted ground,
spell-bound, whilst witnessing the grotesque gambols of
this singular bird ; there only needed Puck, with his elfin
crew, attendant fairies, &c., in connection with the aerial
flights of the Fern-Owl, to have made it, as it was to me,
a tolerably complete Midsummer Night's Dream, espe-
cially as the fever of my night-haunted imagination had
not as yet vanished. As it was, I was delighted with this
nocturnal and beautiful scene from Nature, and I wished
at the time that some of our museum naturahsts had
been with me, to have shared the pleasure that I felt.

NIGHTJAR 243

" Daylight now rapidly advanced, and the Fern-Owls
had vanished into their woody domain, and all was stilh
After a good wash at a little brawling rivulet, I felt my-
self refreshed, and my rustic toilet completed, I dashed
into the thick tangled wood in search of further
adventures.

" At the latter end of June, 1830, 1 started at 12 o'clock
at night with a friend from Bermondsey, Surrey, for a
walk to Bexley, over Dartford Heath, to Wilmington and
Hawley, Kent. We arrived at the Bull Inn, on the top
of Shooter's Hill, between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning.
Here the Fern-Owls were busy, hawking for food about
an elm tree close to the inn, and we sat down on the
bench outside the house for half an hour to refresh our-
selves, and at the same time to admire the clever, quick
movements of the birds. There were several of them,
and they kept flying about the outskirts of the wood
opposite the inn ; but the elm tree seemed to be a
favourite resort, there being no doubt plenty of moths
and beetles about it. The place was all alive with Fern-
Owls, and their continued singing, with occasional sharp
squeaks, made the locality ring again, particularly about
the keeper's house. The birds did not seem in the least
alarmed or shy at our presence, but flew so close to us
that I nearly knocked one down with my stick."

Captain Boyd Alexander, in his notes on birds in Kent
{Zoologist, 1896), says : "The woods are now destitute of
bird-voices, save at times for the fitful cooings of the
Eing-Doves. The Nightjars, too, are silent. Their
monotonous songs ceased as soon as the young were
hatched. Nestlings of this species are frequently found
here very late in the autumn. One was taken near
Sissinghurst on August 10, and I have on record much

244 THE BIRDS OF KENT

later dates than this. While pairing the Nightjar is very
noisy. As soon as twilight begins to fade into dusk the
male bird glides noiselessly up to a leaf-ridden and rotten
tree-limb and immediately utters his call-note, a loud
metallic ticijrrt. When this has attracted the attention
of a female, who utters back a similar note, he com-
mences, though many trees may separate them, his grind-
ing churr, resembling the noise of an axe being sharpened
on a grindstone. This peculiar song is begun loud — so
loud that the dead bough seems to vibrate with the sound.
Suddenly the notes become soft and hardly audible, just
as if the bird was taking breath for a moment, and then
these soft notes are run again into the loud ones. This
churring song, always marked at regular intervals by the
soft bars, lasts at the most for two minutes. Then a
short period of silence elapses before another grind takes
place. And in this still silence one can almost picture to
one's self the sharpener feeling his axe before putting the
finishing touches to it on the grindstone. Besides this
song and call, the Nightjar has an alarm-note. It is a
strident ticyrrt, accompanied by a double clap of the
wings. A branch, dry and sapless, the bark of which
hangs peeled off in long shrunk-up tubes — a white dusty
road or a lately felled tree, shorn of its bark and shooting
out its naked arms into the blank night, are places they
seek by choice. From such points of vantage their large,
lustrous black eyes can the more readily detect the white
moths that flutter aimlessly amongst the undergrowth,
like pieces of delicately cut muslin falling from a dress-
maker's table. The Ked Underwing is also a favourite
food. On a clear and calm night their churrings are
loud and frequent. But when a night-wind is sifting
through the trees, and grey-lag clouds darken the summer

GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER 245

night, the Nightjars seem discomforted ; they sit close,
hugging the rotten hough for very comfort, and the
purring" churr is seldom uttered. Duriug the first week
in September these birds will leave, not to reappear till
the middle of next May.

On May 14, 1902, Mr. T. Hepburn found a Nightjar
on the beach at Dungeness.

Family PICIDiE.
Genus PICUS, Linnteus.

GEEAT BLACK WOODPECKEE.

Picks martins, Linncieus. S.N., i., p. 173 (1766).

On the authority of Mr. K. T. Filmer the present species
is admitted in the fauna of Kent. It appears that he
observed this bird in the first week in January, 1905, on
the top of a telegraph pole, in the railway cutting near
Bourne Wood, Orlestone, Kent, and it is supposed that
the same bird or its mate was seen by one of Mr.
Balston's keepers — Stickles — independently of the above
observer, who was unaware that Mr. Filmer had seen one ;
and it was not far from the same locality. The descrip-
tion of the bird given by Mr. Filmer, as being entirely
black, about as big as a Jackdaw, with a red patch on the
head, agrees exactly Avith this species.

246 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus DENDROCOPUS, Koch.

GBEAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

Dendrocojjus major (Linnffius). S.N., i., p. 176

(1766).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Boys, 1792 ; Magpie-

Galley-birds, Lord Clifton.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker, although generally
distributed throughout the county, is not an abundant
species, always keeping to the larger and older woods.
They are more often seen in the autumn and winter, and
no doubt their numbers are increased from the north, but
during the summer they diminish again, going north to
the larger and older forests for the breeding season.

According to Lord Clifton, in his notes on the Birds at
Cohham: " Two broods of the Great Spotted Woodpecker
were reared there in the summer of 1868." The natives,
he says, call them " Magpie-Galley-birds," galley-bird
being their name for AVoodpecker.

Mr. A. Skinner obtained an " adult male of this bird in
the summer (1868), shot a mile from Faversham, and a
female on November 2, of the same year, shot in Faver-
sham churchyard." It is included among the birds of
Bethersden, by Captain J. D. Cameron. There are speci-
mens in the Maidstone Museum taken at Mereworth,
March 13, 1892, and at Linton, July 2, 1897, by Mr. H.
Kennard. It has been found at Frith, according to the
Rev. C. H. Fielding. Mr. W. Prentis says : " The Great
Spotted Woodpeckers, when they do come to Rainham,
which is very rarely, invariably come in the month of
October."

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER 247

Mr. E. J. Balston, on June 27, 1902, watched a Great
Spotted Woodpecker in Haberdasher's Wood, feeding its
young, from about 3.28 till 3.52 p.m. It fed them four
times, the first three times in about thirteen to fourteen
minutes.

On April 1, 1906, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was
observed searching the trunks of trees, evidently for a
suitable nesting place.

LESSEE SPOTTED WOODPECKEE.

Dendrocopus viinor (Linn^us). S.N., i., p. 17G

(1766).

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is decidedly a rare
bird in Kent.

According to Morris it has occurred in Greenwich
Park. Mr. A. Skinner obtained a female on January 13,
1869, in Faversham Churchyard. There are specimens
in the Maidstone Museum, one a male from Chart Sutton,
from Mrs. T. Balston, and a female obtained at Linton,
January 11, 1888, by Mr. H. Kennard, and an egg from
Boughton, taken June 20, 1885, by Master Eolfe. It is
included in the following districts : Bethersden, Captain
J. D. Cameron ; Cobham, Eev. C. H. Fielding. It has
been found in Blean Wood near Boughton, Mr. E. J.
Balston. Mr. Filmer says it is rare in the Orlestone
district. Folkestone, H. Ullyett, and Stourmouth, G.
Dowker.

There is a specimen in Mr. W. Oxenden's collection in
the Canterbury Museum, which was obtained at St.
Alban's Court, Kent, in 1822.

Mr. W. Prentis says " it has been met with and

248 THE BIRDS OF KENT

obtained on several occasions in our lower orchards
adjoining the marsh at Kainham."

Genus GECINUS, Boie.
GEEEN WOODPECKER.

Gecinus viridis (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 175 (1766).
Green Woodpecker, Boys, 1792 ; Yaffle, Galley-bird.

The Yaffle, so named in Kent from its loud laughing
voice, is the most plentiful of the Woodpeckers in the
county. There is scarcely a large wood or plantation
without a pair or so of Green Woodpeckers ; but this bird
is not confined to the woods, it may be seen in the o^^en
pastures adjoining the plantations, feeding and hunting
for insects on the ground.

Dr. A. G. Butler states that it " usually excavates a
hole for itself in the partly decayed trunks of some soft-
wooded tree ; though in Kent I have chiefly noticed it
entering holes in orchard trees." Mr. R. J. Balston
found that it also bores into the hardest oaks, and he
also noticed that it was common about Pluckley and
Orlestone. Mr. E. Bartlett also found nests in solid oak
trees in East Kent. There are specimens in the
Maidstone Museum from Egerton, Ulcombe and Sand-
way, presented by Mr. Boucher, and a female from
Earleigh, by Mr. H. Kennard. It is included among the
birds of Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron.

Captain Boyd Alexander {Zoologist, 1896) gives the
following interesting notes on the "Green Woodpecker,
that bird who mocks with its bright laughter the
treacherous coming of spring, finds it difficult to rear

GREEN WOODPECKER 249

a brood here, and consequently it is J'early decreasing as
a breeding species. I attribute this fact to the great
increase of the Starling. The big plagues of the small
oak-green caterpillar and other arboreal insects, ex-
perienced the last two seasons, have caused large numbers
of Starlings to breed in the woods, and these birds are
not slow to take advantage of the old homes of the
Woodpeckers. More than this, they engage in pitched
battles with them over their newly made holes. It is
not unusual to find the Green Woodpecker resorting to
the same nest-site of the previous year. In this instance
the old hole is deepened. The drilling of a new one is
accomplished generally by the tenth day, but the time
varies according" to the nature of the tree. The process
of boring, as a rule, takes place during the small hours
of the morning, when chances of discovery are thereby
lessened, since the boring sound can be heard at a con-
siderable distance. During the day the hole is left, and
not returned to till the following morning. The Starling
is quick to avail himself of this absence. The bottom of
the newly drilled hole is soon lined with straw, and then
there is every likelihood of a fight ensuing at daybreak.
The tactics of the Starling are to terrify his adversary.
To do this he takes full advantage of his rapid and nimble
flight, which the Woodpecker cannot match. At one
moment he darts at his enemy, and is away again before
he can retaliate, while the next moment he will be
pouring out volleys of angry abuse upon his foe. I have
witnessed several of these fights, in which the Starling
has invariably scored an easy victory."

250 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus lYNX.

WEYNECK.

lynx torquilla, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 172 (1766).
Cuckoo's Mate, Snake-Bird.

The well-known "Snake-Bird" after its arrival be-
comes sparingly distributed over the county, and is
generally found in the old woods and orchards, which
are well stocked with old gnarled stumps and half-
decayed trees, in which the bird can find holes and large
cavities for a nesting place. The following dates have
been noted of the arrival of this bird in Kent : April 3,
1865 ; April 16, 1867 ; April 6, 1868 ; April 11, 1869 ;
April 9, 1870 ; April 2, 1902 ; April 8 and 14, 1906.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett wrote the following
note on the Wryneck in 1844: "A few years since I
discovered in a hole in an old ash tree a single white
egg, without any trace of nest. Not knowing at the
time what egg it was, I supposed the nest had been
taken, and that this was an egg laid afterwards, as it not
infrequently happens with some birds, that when a nest
has been torn and robbed of its eggs, if the full number
had not previously been laid, an egg is deposited after-
wards, but of course generally neglected. But this is
not always the case, as I recollect an instance of a Hedge-
Sparrow {Accentor modular is) sitting in a most per-
severing manner on an egg which had been laid on the
foundation of its nest, the lining and eggs having been
taken. Acting on this supposition, I took the egg, and
on passing the tree the next day, had the curiosity to
look into the hole, where, to my surprise, I found another
egg ; this I also took, and from that time the tree was

WRYKECK 251

daily visited either by myself or one of my brothers, and
each day a white egg was carried away, until the number
had arrived at twenty-two ! After which, although we
frequently visited the tree, not another egg was laid.
Once or twice only was I able to catch a sight of the
bird, which proved to be what is here provincially called
a " Snake-Bird," and only known amongst the lower
orders by that name, and which I found to be the Wry-
neck {lynx torquilla). I am not aware if the term
"Snake-Bird" is peculiar to Kent. The reason of the
Wryneck having this name assigned to it is, I should
imagine, either from the hissing and really snake-like
noise made by the young before they leave the hollow
tree in which they have been hatched, or from the rather
snake-like appearance of the old birds themselves, in
some of their motions, or very probably from a com-
bination of both these facts. The name certainly has
more of truth in it than provincial names generally have.
I have never heard of an instance of a Wryneck so per-
severingly laying, when regularly robbed of its eggs ;
and indeed there are but few birds, I believe, which
would have continued to lay more than double their
usual number of eggs. I have heard of instances of a
similar character in the common Wren, and in one or
two of the Tit tribe ; but this is the only one that ever
came under my own immediate notice."

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
says : " The Wryneck was not quite so common this
year (1865) as usual ; in general it is to be heard all over
the orchards, and I have several times, by means of a
call, brought three at once into a tree within a yard of
my head, where they would remain for some time, staring
about in the most ludicrous manner. Their note is not

252 THE BIRDS OF KENT

unlike that of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but is
more prolonged and not nearly so shrill. The earliest
record of their appearance that I have by me is April 3 ;
their note last heard July 3 ; bird last seen August 27."

Dr. A. G. Butler states : " Towards the end of June,
1880, I noticed a Wryneck examining a decayed apple-
tree in an orchard at Bobbing in Kent. One of the holes
in this tree had been occupied the previous year by a
Bobin ; the remains of whose nest still lay at the bottom
of the cavity. Previously I had not taken the eggs of
the Wryneck, and therefore I was interested in more
senses than one. Watching the bird through my glasses
I was convinced that it had decided to take possession of
the Bobin's old nest ; but as I was returning to town in
a day or two, I knew I could not myself take the eggs,
so I called the son of the man who rented the orchard,
and promised him a shilling to send me the complete
clutch. A little more than a week later I received five
eggs, which were all that were deposited."

Unusual Nesting-Site for the Wrynecl:. — " In the last
number of the Zoologist (p. 265) I recorded the fact of a
Tree- Sparrow nesting in a mole-burrow in a brick-earth
cutting in Kent. On July 9 I was examining the holes
in the same cutting on the chance of finding a late nest,
when I heard a sound not unlike that made by shaking
a handful of silver coins, issuing from one of the holes ;
after half an hour's hard work I was able to insert my
hand, when I discovered that the hole was occupied by
five full-fledged young Wrynecks. There appeared to be
no nest, or, if there was, it was so completely concealed
under the mass of malodorous guano that I did not dis-
cover it. I have never met with any recorded instance
of the Wryneck breeding in a hole in the ground, and it

WRYNECK 253

may therefore be of interest to publish the facts." — A. G.
Butler {Zoologist, 1887, p. 299).

Wonderful Egg-producing Poicers of the Wrynecli. —
" A friend of mine discovered the haunt of a pair of these
birds, lynx torquilla, in a plantation at Farnborough,
in Kent ; he had noticed them going and coming from
an old decayed plum-stub about 5 feet 6 inches or so in
height. Not being able to see far down the hollow limb,
he broke a strip away, which fortunately snapped off at
the very bottom of the hole, a distance of fully 2 feet.
Where first found, on May 13, 1897, there were seven
eggs lying on the bare wood, which he took, afterwards
replacing the strip in position. Two more eggs were
laid by the 25th inst., and were left in statu quo, but had
disappeared somehow the next morning. The bird de-
posited another on the 26th inst., to which were added
two eggs of the House-Sparrow, to make up for those
that were missing ; all the three, however, lay broken at
the foot of the tree on the following morning. She then
seemed to settle down to regular business and continued
laying every day without intermission, each egg being
removed as soon as laid, the total number up to July 17
reaching sixty-two, less the three that were broken or
missing, leaving fifty-nine eggs in my possession from
the one bird, which I fancy must establish a record.
Concurrently with this another bird was laying in an
adjacent plantation, but in a more erratic fashion, the
eggs in this case being removed in batches of four or
five. On two occasions she stopped laying for a day or
two, and then continued depositing again ; total number
of eggs forty-three." — H. Alderson, Farnborough, Kent
{Zoologist, 1897, p. 511).

254 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family ALCEDINID^.

Genus ALCEDO, Linnaeus.
KINGFISHEE.

Alcedo ispida, Linnieus. S.N., I, p. 179 (17GG).

The scarcity of the Kingfisher in Kent is attributable
to the large number that have been killed for their
beautiful plumage, but now there is every prospect of
their increase in the country. The Kingfisher hunts out
all the streams and lakes that are well stocked with
small fish, upon which it feeds, always selecting an over-
hanging tree, from which it drops like a stone upon its
prey, and returning generally to the same branch or one
near by ; there it may be seen to rap the lively little fish
against the branch until dead, before swallowing it.

Mr. J. W. Hulke, writing on the occurrence of the
Kingfisher at Deal, says : " February 6, 1849 : I saw a
Kingfisher in the marshes to-day, a very rare occurrence
in this neighbourhood. May not this be owing to the
great number of water-rats which swarm all the streams,
destroying their eggs, as I believe they do those of the
Moorhen and AVater-Kail ? "

In the Zoologist, 1851, Mr. W. W. Keeves, writing
to the editor, says : " I have enclosed you part of the
Kingfisher's nest which I found yesterday (May 8, 1851)
near this place (Tunbridge Wells). It contained seven
eggs, but they were so nearly hatched that it was
impossible to extract the young ones. It weighed 2k
ounces and w^as full of maggots." (" This nest consists
entirely of small fish-bones, a very usual circumstance,
and principally those of Eoach and Dace." — E. Newman.)

In Mr. W. H. Power's Birds Observed at Bainham,

KINGFISHER 255

1865, he saj^s : " I am afraid that Kingfishers are not
so common as they were even a few years ago. This
autumn (the season during which they are usuahy most
common about Rainham) I scarcely saw any, while in
1863, at the same time of year, I met with several daily ;
and even allowing that I saw the same bird more than
once in the course of the day, I am afraid it goes some
way to prove that they are gradually becoming more
rare. They used occasionally to breed in the banks of
a deep pit, at a little distance from the marshes ; but
I believe the spot has been deserted by them for some
years."

The various localities in which the Kingfisher has been
obtained are : Loose Bridge, Farleigh and Tovil, on the
Medway, 1874, H. Lamb ; a female obtained at Mailing,
September, 1878, Mr. E. J. Balston, and another
December 30, 1887, on the Medway ; a female in the
Maidstone Museum, from Boughton Monchelsea,
November 15, 1883, from Mr. F. Smith; one female,
Medway, December 1, 1870, in the Maidstone Museum.
Mr. H. Payne ; Bethersden, Captain J. D. Cameron ;
female, Romney Marsh, September 3, Dr. R. B. Sharpe,
in the British Museum.

The Kingfisher, Mr. G. Dowker (1889) says, "is
generally distributed along the banks of the Stour, and
too frequently killed for its beauty. In winter it will
come near dwellings, though generally a shy bird." Mr.
R. T. Filmer states that it is occasionally seen on the
Royal Military Canal and in the marshes. It has been
seen to visit some of the large ponds in the Orlestone
district, and adjoining parishes.

In his Birds of North Kent, Mr. T. Hepburn remarks :
"It strikes one rather by surprise to see a Kingfisher

256 THE BIRDS OF KENT

flash past on these salt marshes. Curiously enough, two
of my notes of this bird fall within a day of each other in
consecutive years — November 16, 1902, and November
15, 1903 ; but I have also several notes of them about the
land-marshes at the time of the year — November and
December."

Mr. E. J. Balston observed them at Capel, Orlestone,
and at a pond at Jenky Farm, 1904-5-6.

Family CORACIID^.

Genus CORACIAS, Linuceus.

EOLLEE.

Coracias garrula, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 159 (1766).

Professor Newton, in the last edition of Yarrell's British
Birds, mentions four examples that have been obtained
in Kent, but unfortunately without data, and whether
the subjoined particulars refer to the four specimens
must remain an open question.

The first is a specimen labelled Kent in the Exeter
Museum, bequeathed by the late Eev. Bower-Scott, but
without any further notes.

The second, according to the Eev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett, 1844, " is a specimen in the collection of
Dr. F. Plomley, who ' informed him that it was
occasionally to be met with in Eomney Marsh.' He
also states that a good specimen was shot a year or
two ago at Wootton."

The last one was obtained by Mr. W. Prentis at
Eainham, Kent, who states, in the Zoologist, 1889 :
" The recent occurrence of the Eoller, one of our rarest

BEE-KATER 257

Continental visitors, is, I think, worth reporting. When
first seen, on November 8, 1888, it was sitting upon the
end of a mangold-wurzel clump, where my labourers were
at work. As it appeared to be very weak, they gave
chase over the hedge, and finally captured the bird alive
on our Eainham marsh. It was very thin in condition,
dying soon after being caught, its death being probably
hastened by the effects of a very cold day,"

Family MEROPID^.

Genus MEROPS, LinnEeus.

BEE-EATER.

Merops apiasier, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 182
(1766).

The only records of the occurrence of the Bee-Eater
in Kent are given by the Eev. J. Pemberton in his Or)ii-
thology of Kent, 1844, as follows: "A specimen of this
rare bird was shot at Kingsgate, in the Isle of Thanet, in
May, 1827. (This specimen is figured in Yarrell's British
Birds.) There is also one in Dr. F. Plomley's collection,
which was shot in the parish of Lydd, in Kent." The
third bird is in the Exeter Museum, labelled Kent,
bequeathed by the late Rev. Bower-Scott.

Family UPUPID^.

Grenus UPUPA, Linnaeus.

HOOPOE.

Upupa epops, Linn^us. >S'.A^., i.,p. 183 (1766).

From the long list of records of the occurrences, the

Hoopoe is a frequent visitor to Kent, and would become
17

258 THE BIRDS OF KENT

more abundant if not persecuted. From all that can be
gathered respecting its sojourn there is little doubt that
the bird has bred in the county.

Latham, in his S!j)wpsis, ii., p. 688 (1782), gives Kent
as a locality for the Hoopoe, and m the Supplement,
p. 123, he states : " The last year, 1786, a young bird was
sent to me, on May 10, full-fledged, shot near Southfleet,
in Kent, by Mr. Godden ; but the old birds had not been
observed."

Boys in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, adds the
Hoopoe to the birds of that district. In the Topography
of Maidstone, 1839, it is mentioned that " one of these
curious birds w^as shot at Style Bridge, near Marden."
The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says : " We
generally receive an annual visit from one or more speci-
mens of this very pretty bird." Dr. F. Plomley has
three specimens, killed in Romney Marsh. Two more
were killed at Fredville, a year or two since, and one at
Ileden, in the parish of Kingston." There are specimens
in the collection of the late Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond,
from Nonington, in Kent, and from Lydd, now in the
Canterbury Museum. One labelled Kent in the Exeter
Museum, the bequest of the Rev. Bower-Scott.

In the Zoologist, 1844, Mr. E. H. M. Sladen writes :
" The Hoopoe can scarcely be called an uncommon bird
now in some parts of England. As Mr. Bartlett says, it
generally visits the east of Kent annually. Several have
been seen at Ripple Court, near Deal, and one was shot,
and is now possessed by the family there."

Mr. W. H. Cordeaux, writing to the Zoologist in 1851,
says: "A fine specimen of this beautiful bird was shot
a fortnight since, in Lower Walmer. It weighs about 12
ounces and is nearly 12 inches in length. This, with the

HOOPOE 259

seven recorded in the Zoologist for June, would seem to
evince that this ' fair feathered one ' is becoming yearly
more partial to our clime ; but how annoying it is to the
real lover of Nature, to learn that no sooner does that
occasional visitant take up its abode with us, than it is
shot by the hand of someone, whose heart wars with the
outward world of beauty, and whose mind is too bloody
to appreciate the perfect form of the Hoopoe, or any
other created thing. Is it not a disgrace to our
naturalists, to our magazine of Natural History, to every
enlightened man, this daily butchery of rare and
beauteous birds ? "

In the Zoologist, 1852, Mr. J. W. Hulke contributed
the following article on the habits of the Hoopoe : —

" I send you a few remarks on the habits of the
Hoopoe, several of which birds have occurred near Deal
during the last month, I saw one on the 6th, and two
on the 24th (April) ; one of these I shot and the other
was shot by a friend. On the 26th, two were seen on
some rising land three miles from here, and another
occurred at Canterbury. The three I saw were on the
sand-hills, a dry, sandy, hillocky slip of land, flanked by
the sea on one side, on the other side by marshes extend-
ing from Sandown Castle to the mouth of the River Stour,
and covered chiefly with tufts of long coarse grass. For
many weeks the wind had been east and north-east ; and
coming through the sand-hills on April 6, I saw a Hoopoe,
which, crossing the hills from the sea, passed over a
hedge into a bean-field. Its actions were quick; it ran
very swiftly for short distances, then pecked the ground,
raised its crest and ran again. It flew for about 70 yards
close to the ground, with a very buoyant flight, and
rather slowly, but when flushed its flight was rather lofty

260 THE BIRDS OF KENT

and well sustained. On the 23rd 1 saw another about a
quarter of a mile from the same spot where I saw the
first. The white rump is very conspicuous when the
bird is on the wing. On the 24th, very early in the
morning, I shot this bird ; it was only winged, and when
I picked it up it bristled up like a game-cock, but this
was all show, no actual resistance. In a few minutes
I found another, which I did not shoot, but it was
obtained by a friend a few hours afterwards. Both birds
were females. None of the ova were larger than mustard
seed. The gizzards contained several caterpillars and
small beetles. Within a few years five others have
occurred here, besides several reports not so worthy of
implicit reliance."

Mr. H. Whitely, in writing to the Zoologist, 1861,
says : " On May 14, 1861, I had a very fine Hoopoe
brought to me. It was shot on the morning of the 12th,
on Plumstead Common, Kent. Upon dissection it proved
to be a female ; some of the eggs were as large as No. 5
shot, and the stomach was full of the remains of beetles.
The bird was very fat, and in splendid plumage."

In the Zoologist, 1862, Mr. J. Harding recorded " a
fine female Hoopoe, shot near Deal in August, 1862."

Mr. J. Hunter records : " A Hoopoe was shot on April
21, 1870, at Lees Court, near Faversham ; it was in fine
plumage, but rather a small specimen." Another Hoopoe
is mentioned by Mr. W. J. 0. Hall, who says : " When
out shooting on September 25, 1876, I shot a very fine
Hoopoe near Faversham." Lord Clifton records one
from " Longfield, near Gravesend, on or about April 14,
1880." One is also mentioned in the Field of April 9,
1881, from Gravesend. In the Stourmouth district, Mr.
G. Dowker states that between 1885-87 the " Hoopoe

HOOPOE 261

has frequently been luet with in my neighbourhood, often
found in the marshes and uplands bordering the Stour,
and generally in the autumn, and young birds are gener-
ally those recorded, and a specimen of the Hoopoe was
shot lately near Dover, by Mr. Crundel, while out Part
ridge shooting in November, 1889."

In September, 1892, a specimen was obtained in the
Manor House garden on the Tonbridge Eoad, Maidstone,
and it is supposed that it has bred near that place on two
occasions or more. The Rev. C. H. Fielding states that
the " Hoopoe was found at liyarsh, in Kent, where it
built for some years." In his Birds of Bainham Mr. W.
Prentis says : " The Hoopoe has upon two occasions at
least been met with, once in the spring of the year and
the other in the autumn, both times near trees on the
border of the marsh. A third Hoopoe is said to have
been seen this spring (1894)." There is a specimen in
the Maidstone Museum labelled Kent, presented by Mr.
G. Simmons ; and it is also recorded from Aylesford, near
Maidstone, April, 1894. A specimen was procured by
Mr. G. Bensted at Ulcombe, in Kent, on September 1,
1898. Mr. A. Eandall Davis (Hythe, Kent) states in the
Field : " On April 6, 1906, a Hoopoe appeared on our
lawn, and was our welcome guest on that and the follow-
ing days, but on the eighth has not been seen. He spent
the greater part of his time on a grass bank, where he
seemed to find food to his liking. He used his bill like
a pickaxe, and threw up his head to swallow the food.
He was not very shy, and one could sometimes get
within 4 or 5 yards of him. His arrival caused a great
commotion amongst the other birds ; the Thrushes and
Blackbirds scolded him, and the Jackdaws chased him
round the trunks of the ^elm trees, but they were all

262 THE BIRDS OF KENT

apparently more curious than angry. By the afternoon
all had settled down quietly together. As the visits of
this bird are now becoming rare, you may think this
worth recording." It has also been mentioned by the
late Mr. C. Gordon from Dover, and the Rev. W. B.
Delmar from Elmstone.

Family CUCULID^.

Genus CUCULUS, Linnaeus.

CUCKOO.

Cuculus canorus, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 1G8
(1766).

Gowk.

The well-known Cuckoo, which every lover of birds
listens for in the early spring, arrives at the beginning
of April if the season is open and moderately warm, and
may be seen or heard in all the woodlands and planta-
tions throughout the county. The dates of its arrival
vary considerably, which no doubt is to be attributed to
the atmospheric changes, and the direction of the wind
at the end of March and the early part of the month of
April. In the subjoined particulars the data will be
given in chronological order for easy reference.

Writing from Chart's Edge, near Westerham, in 1846,
Mr. J. F. Streatfield says : " These birds have been very
numerous here throughout the summer ; their eggs were
found in several nests. In one nest (a Tit-Lark's) I
found one half-fledged, which I took, to bring up by
hand. It was very spiteful, spreading its wings and flying
at my finger when offered food. During a month it was

CUCKOO 263

fed on hard eggs, butterflies, grasshoppers, &c. It now
fed itself, and never seemed to have enough food ; one
day it ate sixty-five butterflies (principally Meadow
Browns) and a whole hen's egg. It Hved till winter came
on, when it died, without any apparent cause. I obtained
one of the eggs in a Titlark's nest, and in another a
young Cuckoo, which quite filled the small nest and had
turned out the egg and young one of the Titlark."

Mr. H. W. Hadfield, writing to the Zoologist, in 1857,
says : " Tonbridge, March 26, 1857 : Observed a Cuckoo
this afternoon flying low, so that in threading its way
through the hop-poles it passed so close to me that
I could plainly distinguish the varied and chequered
plumage of the back." In this instance it is curious that
the bird in the variegated plumage of the young bird
should have made its appearance in Kent at such an
early date. A strange instance of the " abundance of
young Cuckoos " at Deal is recorded by Mr. H. J. Hard-
ing, September 20, 1862: "A great number of young
Cuckoos are now being caught by the hand in and
about gardens in this neighbourhood (Deal). Some fly
into houses and sheds, and they are so abundant as to
be noticed by the residents. They are extremely tame,
and those which have passed through my hands are fat
and in good condition. I believe them all to be young
birds not yet able to take their flight."

Mr, A. W. Crichton, writing on the Deposition of Eggs
hij the Cuckoo, in 1863, says : " An anecdote was lately
furnished me in corroboration of the above, while on a
recent visit to Dover, by Mr. C. Gordon, the able and
enterprising attendant at the Museum there. He clearly
remembers that a friend of his, thirty years ago, when
walking in the park at Waldershare, the seat of the Earl

264 THE BIRDS OF KENT

of Guildford, observed a Cuckoo sitting on the ground in
a ride under the hme trees along the edge of the wood.
He knocked it over with a stick, and on squeezing it by
the throat to expedite its dying struggles, the soft and
fluid yolk of an egg, flowing freely forth from the base
of the mandibles, caused him to exclaim, ' Why he's
got an egg in his mouth.' I have no doubt that similar
instances of this habit of the Cuckoo have given rise to
the prevailing notion that it sucks the eggs of other
birds."

In his Birds of Rainham, 1865, Mr. W. H. Power says
the Cuckoo was " first heard on April 22. This species,
like the Wryneck, was not quite so abundant this year
(1865) as last ; indeed, their numbers vary greatly in
different years, and in this district appears to me to bear
a distinct relation to the presence or absence of a cater-
pillar that feeds upon the gooseberry leaves. In some
seasons these caterpillars infest the bushes in myriads,
and at such times the Cuckoos abound in the planta-
tions, where I have often flushed from six to a dozen
within a distance of 100 yards. In the early part of the
summer of 1862 I more than once heard the Cuckoo
singing at midnight ; there was one in particular that
generally commenced his song at 11 p.m., and continued
it almost without intermission till nearly one o'clock in
the morning. About the beginning of July the Cuckoos
collect in the plantations near the river (Medway), and
often take long flights out over the marshes, on which
they sometimes settle to feed upon a species of caterpillar
at this time to be found on the marsh plants. Towards
the latter end of the month the old birds begin to retire
on their migration, and are in their turn replaced by the
birds of the year ; these may be found till about the

CUCKOO 265

middle of August, but as a rule all depart before Septem-
ber. This year (1865), however, my brother shot one on
the 11th of that month, the only instance, to my know-
ledge, of so late a stay."

During Dr. A. G. Butler's bird's-nesting in Kent in
1875, he found some Cuckoo's eggs which he describes
as a " small reddish form, taken at Murston, May 29,
1875, from a Sedge-Warbler's nest. A larger greyish
form was taken at Tonge Mill, Tonge, June 5, 1875, from
a Reed-AVarbler's nest."

In the Zoologist, 1878, Mr. A. Beale, of Chidding-
stone, Kent, states : " About two years ago I found two
Cuckoo's eggs in a Hedge-Sparrow's nest, both apparently
laid by one bird, as neither was similar to any other
Cuckoo's egg I have ever taken, but more resembled the
Pied Wagtail's egg in colour. I mention this, as in the
Introduction to Montagu's Dictionary of British Birds it
is stated that ' where two eggs have been found in one
nest, they certainly were laid by different birds.' I think
the above affords strong proof that one Cuckoo does
sometimes lay two eggs in the same nest."

Cuckoo's Eggs. — " On June 5 of last year (1884) I
found in a nest two eggs of the Common Whitethroat
and a Cuckoo's. The Cuckoo's egg was unusually hand-
some, somewhat resembling a finely marked egg of the
Greenfinch, but having a rich creamy ground-colour.
Within a few minutes I found another, about a hundred
yards away, also in a Whitethroat's nest, and of a
precisely similar description : there were four AVhite-
throat's eggs slightly incubated. On June 17, another
Cuckoo's egg was found in a Whitethroat's nest, pre-
cisely similar to the above two. The position of this
nest was about equidistant from the others and some

266 THE BIRDS OF KENT

120 yards away, and contained three Whitethroat's eggs.
I have no doubt but that these three Cuckoo's eggs had
been laid by one bird. If this be so, it strengthens the
idea that each female Cuckoo probably lays its eggs only
in the nests made by one species of bird. It seems prob-
able, too, that a Cuckoo reared in, say, a Whitethroat's
nest would by-and-bye lay its eggs in Whitethroat's
nests, and that Whitethroat's nests would be selected by
a sort of hereditary instinct. Dr. Baldwin, if I remember
correctly, thought that the Cuckoo when about to lay was
influenced by the colour of the eggs in the nest before it,
and that in consequence its eggs assimilated in colour
to those already laid by the owner of the nest. If there
be anything in such colour assimilation, would not the
fact I have above recorded suggest that it may in part
be due to gradual and hereditary infiueuce?" — A. B.
Farn, Dartford {Zoologist, 1885, p. 146).

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says : " The
Cuckoo is very numerous in my neighbourhood (Stour-
mouth). It freqaently makes use of the Hedge- Sparrow
to rear its young. I have met vi^ith it also in the Spotted
Flycatcher's, Keed- Warbler's and Pied Wagtail's nests.
I have often wondered if they return to their old haunts,
like some other migratory birds, and I fancy they do. I
have found them yearly in the same coppice soon after
their arrival. They are incessant in their song by night
as well as by day. It certainly carries its egg in the
beak, when depositing it in other birds' nests."

In the Zoologist, 1895, Mr. Leonard S. Loat, of South-
borough, Tunbridge Wells, writes : " On May 28 I
found a Great AVhitethroat's nest containing two eggs
and one of a Cuckoo's. I took the Cuckoo's eg^. Going
again on the 31st, I found the Whitethroat had laid one

CUCKOO 2(37

more egg, and had thea commenced to sit. This is
rather unusual, as the normal number of eggs is generally
five. The nest was situated in a hedge at the top of a
high bank, bordering a road which was little frequented."

In Mr. E. J. Balston's notes he says that the flight
of the Cuckoo is at times very heavy and apparently
laborious, and that small birds will attack a Cuckoo in
a tree, and drive it away, and that an immature bird was
shot in September, at Chart Sutton, by him.

The Cuckoo was heard at 4.30 a.m. on April 12, 1902.

In the report on the immigration of summer residents
in the spring of 1905 {BiiUetin of the B.O.C.), the dates
of the arrival of the Cuckoo are April 14 to 16, 1905,
and May 7 they appear to have mcreased. The long
severe weather of the spring of 1906 delayed the arrival
of all the summer visitants, and the Cuckoo was first
heard in the Orlestone district on April 17, and an egg
was found in a Robin's nest at Bilsington on May 18.
A young one was found in a hedge nearly opposite the
railway signal-box and crossing at Upper Ruckinge, on
July 6, 1906 ; it was reared in a Hedge-Sparrow's nest,
and was fully fledged when discovered.

In the Fauna of the " Cedars,'' Lee, Kent, Mr. J. F.
Green says : " The Cuckoo still remains faithful, though
every spring we hear less of its welcome note, owing, no
doubt, to so many properties around being amassed for
building purposes. For years I had been trying to get
a clutch of Hedge-Sparrow's eggs containing a Cuckoo's
blue egg, and last year I succeeded. It is curious why a
Cuckoo's egg in a Redstart's nest is nearly always blue,
and yet hardly blue in a Hedge-Sparrow's, although Red-
start's and Hedge-Sparrow's eggs are almost identical."

268 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family STRIGID^.

Genus STRIX, Linnagus.

BAKN-OWL.

Strix flammea, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 133 (1766).
White Owl, Boys, 1792 ; Screecli-Owl.

The Barn-Owl is one of the best known of all the
species in Kent on account of it frequenting the church
towers, old barns and houses, in which it builds its nest
and rears its young.

Although this owl is one of the most useful birds to
the homestead and the farmer, they are ruthlessly
destroyed.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1884, says :
" I am always grieved to see this beautiful and most use-
ful bird nailed, with extended w'ings, to barns and other
depositories of gamekeepers' trophies. It is truly the
farmer's friend, and at the same tiuDe I think not the
game-preserver's enemy ; at all events, to so slight an
extent is it so that the good it does abundantly counter-
balances its slight poaching propensities." This is —

" The owl, that watching in the barn,
Sees the mouse creeping in the corn,
Sits still and shuts his round blue eyes
As if he slept — until he spies,
The little beast witliin his stretch —
Then starts and seizes on the wretch.''

Morris, in his British Birds, 1851, says: "The very
last specimen but one that I have seen was a young bird
perched on the exact centre of the reredos in Charing
Church, Kent."

Barn Owl Preying upon Fish. — "For several nights

BARN-OWL 269

past I have observed a Barn-Owl about the harbour, but
this evening, during a dead cahxi, and while the moon was
shining very brightly, the bird appeared skimming rapidly
within a short distance of the water. Suddenly it dropped
towards the surface, and then instantly rising continued
its flight towards the Isle of Sheppey. Some minutes
afterwards it reappeared, repeated the same act, and
again and again went through ahnost precisely similiar
manoeuvres, until I had witnessed the occurrence perhaps
eight or ten times. It is remarkable that the bird was
never seen returning from the Isle of Sheppey ; it invari-
ably came from the direction of the opposite shore, so that
the moon cast a shadow behind instead of before, and
thus the fish could receive no notice of the approach of
the enemy until it was close upon them. I was at too
great a distance to see whether the bird's feet actually
touched the water, but there can be little doubt not only
that they did so, but that a fish was occasionally captured,
for sometimes the bird after stopping rose hurriedly, and
describing a wide circle in its flight, returned near the
same spot, and then made an apparently more successful
pounce. Once it flew across without making any stop,
but in this instance it returned sooner than usual.
Several men belonging to the ship also witnessed the
above, and one of them, a native of Kent, told me that
when he was a boy he used very often to find fish-bones
in a Barn-Owl's nest, but although his assertion may be
open to doubt, the account given by various authors have
long since established the fact that owls do occasionally
prey upon fish. I myself have found the remains of fish
in the stomach of the Tawny Owl." — H. L. Saxby,
Sheerness, October 9, 1862 {Zoologist, 1862, p. 8281).
Barn-Owl and Bat. — "The following instance of

270 THE BIRDS OF KENT

instinct at fault, which has not been recorded, was com-
municated to me some time ago. In the autumn of 1865
a fine owl was brought to be stuffed. It belonged to a
Mr. Wallis, farmer, of Leigh, near Tonbridge, Kent. The
farmer's wife told me she had picked up the bird dead on
the barn floor, and that beside it, also dead, was a very
large rat. There is little doubt but that an encounter
had taken place between them, the injuries received by
each being sufficient to cause death. The bird had
evidently been severely bitten by the rat." — J. H. Gurney,
jun. {Zoologist, 1876, p. 4871).

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889,
says : " In confinement owls are most interesting birds,
and they are constantly advertised as domestic pets.
So this may have something to do with their being
found in diminished numbers. I had once a Barn-Owl
for some time in confinement, and it was quite as partial
to sparrows as to mice. The specimen was a lady, and
received clandestine visits from one of the male sex, until
one night the gentleman managed to undo the door of the
cage and let his lady-love free. I gave him credit for
great intelligence and was rather glad he had so gallantly
rescued the captive."

Mr. J. F. Green, in his Fauna of the " Cedars," Lee,
Kent, remarks that the Barn-Ovvls love to sit at night, in
a friendly way, by the West Lodge Pigeons, looking, no
doubt, for mice."

This year (1907) Mr. K. J. Balston completed the
restoration of Bilsington Priory. A pair of Barn-Owls,
which had nested in the old building for some years, came
back to a turret where a place was left on purpose for
them. On May 28 the first egg was found. May 29 the
second, June 1 the third, June 4 the fourth, June 12 the

LONG-EARED OWL 271

fifth. On June 21 the owl was sitting. The nest was
not regularly visited for fear of disturbing the bird, but
the first egg was not there on May 27. July 2, one young
bn-d and five eggs in the nest ; July 25 three young birds.

Family ASIONID^.

Genus ASIO, Brisson.

LONG-EAEED OWL.

Asio otus (Linnaeus). B.N., i., p. 132 (1766).
Eared Owl, Boys, 3792.

This species is not plentiful in many parts of Kent,
but in the more open woodlands it is frequently met
with, singly or in pairs. It is only a winter visitor to
the county, and therefore only observed during the
Partridge and Pheasant shooting season, when driven
from its hiding places.

It was obtained by Mr. E. J. Balston, who shot one
of these birds in the winter of 1871, when ferreting
rabbits on the Boxley Hills. It flew out of a yew tree.
As it had got some distance before seen it was only
winged ; when taken up it hissed and snapped its bill
repeatedly. Another was obtained by a keeper on Boxley
Hills on February 20, 1894. A specimen in the Maid-
stone Museum was procured by Mr. W. Hickmot on
December 22, 1882, and a male was shot by Colonel
Franklyn, at Hollingbourne, on November 28, 1891.
This bird was being mobbed by small birds in a fir
tree ; when shot it had a Linnet in its claws. The
Eev. C. H. Fielding observed this species at Addington
in the winter of 1892-3. Mr. E. J. Balston found it in
the Orlestone district in 1902.

272 THE BIRDS OF KENT

On July 20, 1906, a Long-eared Owl was seen in the
woods near Ruckinge ; it flew up on to a dead bough,
and looked about, and then flew on to another, ignoring
the presence of the observer.

Mr. H. Elgar writes that " Mr. Boucher, of Maidstone,
has a very light-coloured specimen of the Long-eared
Owl, shot at Egerton in January, 1907."

SHOET-EARED OWL.

Asio hracliyotus (Forster). Phil. Trans., Ixii.,
p. 343 (1772).

This owl is certainly an uncommon species in Kent,
being an autumn and winter visitor.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
states that it was " common in Eomney Marsh, and
occasionally met wath throughout the county." The
marsh has greatly changed since then, and bird-life with
it. There is a male specimen in the Maidstone Museum
which was obtained in Eomney Marsh in January, 1881,
by M. H. Ivennard, and a female procured near Maid-
stone on March 5, 1892, by Mr. Turner. One of these
birds was shot at Boxley by Mr. E. Balston when
Pheasant shooting with Major Best in the winter of
1869-70. According to the Eev. C. H. Fielding, it has
been found at Chalk and Eamsgate. Mr. W. Prentis
says : " When partridge shooting I have met with them
in our turnip fields. On one occasion a pair nested and
succeeded in hatching their young on an island marsh
which had been lying idle throughout the winter and
spring."

TAWNY OWL 273

Genus SYRNIUM, Savigny.
Ti^WNY OWL.

Syrnium aluco (Linnasus). 8.N.^ i., p. 13-2 (1766).
Wood-Owl, Brown Owl and Ivy-Owl.

The Tawny Owl is rather more numerous than either
of the preceding species in Kent, and it breeds in the
more secluded old woods and private plantations.

In June, 1874, one of these birds was caught at Boxley
Abbey in a trap baited with part of a rabbit supposed
to have been killed by a cat. It was a large bird and
probably a female. There is a female in the Maidstone
Museum obtained on September 2, 1892, by Colonel
Franklyn, at Hollingbourne, and a male shot at Harriet-
sham on April 26, 1894, by Mr. H. Elgar.

It has been observed in the Orlestone and Kuckinge
woodlands several times during the summers of 1902-6.

Mr. J. F. Green, in his Fauna of the " Cedars," Lee,
Kent, says : " The owls are a great institution here,
and I love to hear them. In June and July the young
of the Brown Owls seem to call for food all night — a
quick too-whit. The old birds give a very long-drawn-
out whistle, on a descending scale, followed by the
same note in tremolo, like a child in distress. Our
watchman sometimes sees them dive into the ivy after
the roosting sparrows which swarm here."

Mr. E. J. Balston states that "a pair used to breed
in an old tree in the Park at Clare House, Mailing,
1878-81. They are also heard frequently in the summer
at Springfield, in the outskirts of Maidstone.
18

274 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus NYCTEA, Stephens.

SNOWY OWL.

Nyctea scandiaca (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 132
(1766).

There are three records of the occurrence of this
beautiful owl having been taken in Kent.

The first is a specimen in the Exeter Museum, be-
queathed by the Rev. Bower-Scott.

Morris states that one was killed at Frinstead, in
Kent, in 1841 ; and Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of
East Kent, says: "One specimen of the Snowy Owl
was obtained from near Faversham."

Genus SURNIA, Dumeril.
EUKOPEAN HAW^K-OWL.

Surnia uJula (Linnaeus). >S'.A^., i., p. 133 (1766).

The only Kentish specimen is that which is in the
Maidstone Museum, presented by Mr. G. Simmons.

Genus NYCTALA, C. L. Brehm.
TENGMALM'S OWL.

Nyctala tengmahni (J. F. Gmelin). >S'.A^, i., p. 291

(1788).

The first Kentish specimen is that which is mentioned
in Yarrell's British Birds (third edition, 18.56) : " In
May, 1836, the late Mr. Leadbeater, of Brewer Street,
received a specimen for preservation which had been shot

AMERICAN SCREECH OWL 275

in Kent." There is a specimen of this species in the
Exeter Museum, labelled Kent, the bequest of the Kev.
Bower-Scott. A Tengmahn's Owl was obtained at Dart-
ford, in Kent, in November, 1881 {Field, November 18,
1881), and the Rev. C. H. Fielding records one killed in
Kent in 1885, which may refer to the latter bird.

Genus SCOPS, Savigny.
SCOPS OWL.

8co;ps scops (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 13^2 (1766).

According to Mr. J. E. Harting {Handbook, p. 336,
1901), a Scops Owl was obtained near Maidstone, and is
now in the Dover Museum. In the Bulletin of the B.O.C.
(vol. xii., p. 39, 1902) it is stated that Mr. Collingwood
Ingram " sent for exhibition a specimen of a Scops Owl
(Scops scops) which had been caught alive in a coach-
house at Broadstairs, in March, 1898, when a brisk
south-east wind was blowing. The bird was kept alive
for some time, but ultimately died and came into Mr.
Ingram's possession."

AMERICAN SCREECH OWL.

Scops asio (Liniicieus). S.N., i., p. 132 (1766).
Mottled Owl.

In the Zoologist, 1870, Lord Clifton gave a long
account of the " supposed occurrence of the Mottled
Owl at Cobham in Kent, on April 11, 1870." This led
to a great amount of correspondence from Captain H.
Hadfield and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., and must remain
an open question.

276 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus BUBO, Dumeril.
EAGLE OWL.

Bubo bubo (LimicTus). S.N., i., p. 131 (1766).

The first and only record of the occurrence of the
Eagle Owl in Kent is that given by Dr. Latham in his
General Synopsis, vol. i., part i., p. 1-16 (1781). He
states : " It has been shot in Scotland and in Yorkshire,
and, if a friend does not deceive me, has once been seen
in Kent, perched upon a gate, near to a large wood, in
the spring of 1770."

Genus ATHENE, Boie.

LITTLE OWL.

Athene imsserina (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 133
(1766).

The occurrences of the Little Owl in Kent are few,
and the first recorded was by Mr. Whitmore Baker
{Zoologist, 1856), vi^ho says : " A fine specimen of the
Little Owl was lately taken in the neighbourhood of
Maidstone, alive, and is so now in my possession ; it
being a rara avis, I thought it would be interesting to
ornithologists" (May, 1856). In the collection of Mr.
F. Bond is a specimen which was shot at Sevenoaks
in Kent, in 1862. It is recorded from Cuxton in Kent
by Mr. Pye, but without data.

On May 25, 1906, a Little Owl was seen in a wood
near Bilsington, Kent. Its discovery was caused by a
lot of small birds, who created a hubbub and had mobbed
it, but it was sitting in an oak tree quite at ease. This

MARSH-HARRIER 277

bird might have been one that was turned out in the
district some time previously.

Mr. H. Elgar writes : "I find I had made a note of
seeing a Little Owl in the flesh shot at Cuxton in July,
1894. On March 2, 1907, we had a specimen of the
Little Owl brought into the Maidstone Museum ; it was
shot at Cobtree, Boxley, whilst flying over some fowls,
and was mistaken for a hawk. It showed no trace of
having been kept in confinement and was in good con-
dition ; the crop was empty, but the gizzard contained
a number of elytra belonging to small beetles."

Family FALCONID^.

Genus CIRCUS, Lacepede.

MAESH-HAERIEK.

Circus (vruginosus (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 130
(1766).

Boys, in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, caUs this species
the "Moor Buzzard," which appears to be the oldest
and most appropriate name for this bird. The Eev. J.
Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states that it is
" not micommon in Romney Marsh." Those days are
past, and it may now be considered a rare visitor to
these localities ; the large increase of the population
and the cultivation of these marshes have driven the
birds to more suitable places.

Mr. G. Dowker says that the Marsh-Harrier is very
rare in East Kent. It has been obtained by Mr. W.
Oxenden Hammond at Nonington ; by Mr. C. Gordon
at Dover, and by Dr. F. Plomley in Kent.

278 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. E. T. Filmer says that a specimen, the property
of Sir J. Dewar, that fell to the gun of Mr. Stickles, of
Orlestone, at one time gave the keepers of that district
a great deal of trouble.

A Marsh -Harrier, according to Mr. AV. Prentis, was
shot in the woods at Rainham in June, 1867 ; it was of
a deep chocolate colour, head included, and was just
beginning to moult.

HEN-HAERIEE.

Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 126 (1766).

The Hen-Harrier, like the preceding species, has be-
come rare in Kent, although in former days no doubt it
was plentiful and bred in the county. Boys includes it
in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, and the Eev. J. Pember-
ton Bartlett (1844) says it is "not uncommon in Romney
Marsh." There is an immature male in the Maidstone
Museum obtained on Boxley Hills on January 8, 1885,
by Mr. A. F. Style. Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds
of Rainham, says : " I once, when driving in the month
of August, had the pleasure of seeing a pair, an old grey
male and a brown female, circling round the centre of
a field of barley off the main road."

MONTAGU'S HARRIER.

Circus cineraceus (Montagu). Ornitli. Diet.,
1, F. 2 (1802).

This species appears to be a greater frequenter of Kent
than the two former birds. There is no doubt that it
used to breed freely in the large marshes of the county,

Montagu's harrier 279

but persecution has driven it away. In 1844, accord-
ing to the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, a pair were shot
in May under the cHffs near Dover. In the Zoologist,
1853, Mr. James Green writes : " I have a fine old
female of Montagu's Harrier that was shot in Wool-
wich marshes on August 16 last."

In the Field, 1870, a note appeared, which was after-
wards copied in the Zoologist, 1870, under the heading of
Black Montagu's Harrier, as follows : "There is a very
fine black male of this species, having a roseate gloss
upon its upper parts, in the Canterbury Museum, shot
near that city ; and in the Dover Museum I observed
another, and was told by the Curator there that he had
seen five or six like it in the course of his experience.'"'
— J. H. Gurney, jun. The former bird, and a rufous-
headed young one, are still in the Canterbury Museum :
they formed part of Mr. AV. Oxendon Hammond's
collection.

Morris says that two of Montagu's Harriers " of a
uniform dark colour," in the collection of Mr. Chaffey, of
Dodington, in Kent, were shot by the Preventive men
at Dover. " One of them, at Mr. Chaffey's decease,
according to Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., became the property
of the Eev. Bower-Scott, of Chudleigh, in Devon " ; this
specimen is now in the Exeter Museum.

Writing to the Zoologist in 1871, from Cobham, in
Kent, Lord Chfton states that " during September and
October we had several Harriers about, which is also
unusual. There was one pair of brown Harriers, very
long and slender in shape, which I imagine to have been
Montagu's Harrier ; another, a male, in the conspicuous
blue and white plumage, looked more like a Hen-
Harrier, being rather a stouter bird, i.e., stouter than

250 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the smaller bird of the other pair, which I suppose was
the Diale. I noticed that they perched occasionally on
trees, but not often ; more often on the ground or on
the bushes stuck in the fields to prevent netting. They
were generally to be seen hovering at no great height
over the fields, or skimming low along the stubbles at
about 6 inches from the ground."

The Eev. C. H. Fielding records Montagu's Harrier
in the Higham district. A female was procured at
Snoad Wood, Staplehurst, Kent, in November, 1892,
and recorded in Land and Water ; and an adult male
was obtained by Mr. Boucher, at Smarden, May, 1892.
The late Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Eainham, adds
the following particulars respecting the specimens in his
collection : " The name Ash-coloured applies to the old
male with black bar across its wings ; six varieties have
been obtained in my district, viz. : No. 1 : Old male with
black bar across wings ; June 8, 1866. No. 2 : Old
female dressed in shades of brown ; May 17, 1869. No. 3 :
Immature male, ash-coloured with some light brown
feathers intermixed ; May 15, 1869. No. 4 : A dark-
coloured variety, chocolate, almost black ; May 18, 1867.
No. 5 : Dark chocolate mixed with brown ; July 5, 1870.
No. 6 : Light brown on the back, on the breast white,
slightly tinged with red ; May, 1888."

Mr. M. A. Mathew states that he possesses examples
of Montagu's Harrier from Kent.

Alleged Nesting of Montagu's Harrier in Kent. —
*' About the last week in June a young lady, a near
neighbour, called to tell me that she had found a nest
that sbe was anxious to identify, bringing with her a
feather which had fallen from the bird as it left the nest.
I at once recognised the feather as one of the outer tail-

BUZZAED 281

feathers of a Harrier, but of which particular species I
did not feel sure at first. It certainly was not a Marsh-
Harrier, and therefore was either the Hen-Harrier,
Circus cyaneus, or Montagu's C. cineraceus. The locality,
a marsh, did not accord with the usual breeding places
of the Hen-Harrier, and on my showing a specimen of
a female of each of these species, an objection was raised
that the Hen-Harrier was too large. A further coni-
jDarison of the tail-feathers of each left no doubt in my
mind that the nest was one of C. cineraceus. The nest
was in a dry part of the marsh, and placed in a thick
clump of rush and Garex. Some of the material, which
was also brought for my inspection, consisted of broken
pieces of dry reed. The nest was described as very slight
in construction. There was one pale bluish- white egg,
and this was left in the hope that more would be laid.
On a second visit the egg was gone, probably abstracted
by a Rook, as no footmarks or trodden herbage was
visible ; nor was the bird seen again. I think there is
no doubt whatever that this Harrier (Montagu's) had
bred here." — W. Oxenden Hammond, AYingham, Kent
{Zoologist, 1897, p. 363).

Genus BUTEO, Lacepede.
BUZZAED.

Buteo hiiteo (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 127 (1766).

The Buzzard is a frequent visitor to Kent, and would
become a permanent resident if allowed to exist, but
its depredations are many, which precludes it from
preservation.

A large number of specimens have been obtained at

282

THE BIRDS OF KENT

various times, aud the subjoined particulars of its occur-
rences confirm that during the Franco-German War
many were observed in the county.

In the Zoologist, 18G8, Lord Clifton writes : "We have
had several rare birds at Cobham this summer. Daring
the beginning of August a Buzzard, of the common
species, I think, was several times observed. I saw it
myself quite near me one afternoon, and it was observed
near the same spot on the evening of that day, and on
the next day. Each observer described it as a very big
Hawk of owlish appearance and brown colour." Mr. A.
Skinner says : ''A specimen of the Common Buzzard was
shot at Boughton, near Faversham, about December 28,
1868." In the Zoologist, 1871, Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover,
writes : " Eight Common Buzzards have been captured
during the present month (Kovember) on the adjoining
estates of Godmersham and Chilham Castle, near Canter-
bury. It is my opinion that a migration of these birds
has taken place."

Lord Clifton, of Cobham, states: "In the month of
November (1870) we w^ere visited by a large flight of
Buzzards, several of which are still frequenting the
extensive woods about here. Two specimens were
trapped on the adjoining estate, belonging to the Kev. J.
Formby, whose keeper supposed them to be Kites. Two
fine specimens have also been caught in our woods in
vermin traps. I have examined the birds myself, and
believe them to be immature birds. They are un-
doubtedly the Common Buzzard, and measure 49 inches
across the wings. The rest of the flight are constantly
seen about the woods, and there must be at least seven,
if not nine, for on one beat five have constantly been
observed together and separately, and on another beat

BUZZAED 283

two others are constantly seen which are undoubtedly
different, one of them being of an extraordinary light
colour. I attribute this unusual flight to the disturbance
of the French woods by the war ; for though in former
years we have had six or seven at a time, we have
never had so many as eleven before. The last of the
extraordinary flight of Buzzards that visited this county
during the war disappeared in April, 1871. The older
keepers were already acquainted with the birds, having
lived in the days when the " Puttock " and Kite were
among the commonest Hawks, but now we have not
a keeper that does not know the bird. They appeared
to roost in company, for on one occasion six, and on
another five, were seen together in the early morning.
Among these Buzzards the keepers observed a different
bird, which was very light-coloured and had a greyish
head, flying also in a different manner. I think this was
probably a Honey-Buzzard." Writing again in 1872,
Lord Clifton says : " We have had one or two Buzzards
here this winter, and they still remain (January 10),
but not more than three at the most, nothing like the
large flight of twelve or fifteen that visited us last year."
According to Mr. D. T. Button, in writing from
Gravesend in 1872, the larger Hawks were unusually
common there during the last two years, 1871-72; he
obtained two examples of the Buzzard.

Mr. W. Prentis states that " according to the late
Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover, twenty-five Buzzards were
obtained in East Kent alone. I have heard of others
being obtained in West Kent, a pair was shot in my
district." There is a specimen in the Maidstone Museum
which was obtained at Boxley, Kent, by Mr. E. J.
Balston.

284 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Mr. R. T. Filiner relates that a nest was taken from
the Great Fh-s, Kent, ahout thirty years ago. The bird
has also been observed at HoUingbourne by Mr. E. D. do
Uphaugh; and on April 11, 1906, a Buzzard was seen
to come up from Eomney Marsh and cross over in the
direction of Bilsington.

Genus ARCHIBUTEO, C. L. Brehm.

EOUGH-LEGGED BUZZAED.

Arcliihuteo lagoims (Gmelin). >S'.iV., i., p. "260
(1788).

A great many specimens of the Rough-legged Buzzard
have been taken in Kent, and it appears to be a regular
autumn and winter visitor, and some of these occurrences
were caused, no doubt, by the Franco-German War.

There is a female of this species in the British Museum
labelled Kent ; it was presented by Dr. Latham, and in
his Supplement to the Synopsis, p. 19 (1787), he mentions
that the Rev. — Wilgress, of Eltham, Kent, sent him a
specimen ; perhaps this is the same bird.

Montagu records one in Kent, picked up dead on the
coast in the winter of 1792. The Rev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett says : " This is but an occasional visitor. A
specimen, which is now stuffed, was taken by the keeper
of J. P. Plamtre, Esq., M.P., at Fredville, Nonington.
There is also a specimen in Dr. F. Plomley's collection."
Mr. A. Skinner records that a " Rough-legged Buzzard
was taken by a keeper, in the summer of 1869, from a
trap baited with Partridge near Faversham." Mr. D. T.
Button, of Gravesend, writing February 21, 1872, says :
" I have had several Rough -legged Buzzards sent me
this winter; they were all females."

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD 285

When writing to the Zoologist in 1877, Lord Clifton
says : " It is somewhat remarkable that the Eough-legged
Buzzard was unrecognised here until December 6, 1876,
the common species occurring almost every year about
November 1. On December 6 I went to a well-known
haunt of the Common Buzzard to see if any were about,
and I at once perceived two Buzzards hovering over a
wood. I noticed several peculiarities in their appearance.
Their heads were conspicuously light in colour, and their
long wings and hovering flight gave them a somewhat
aquiline appearance. Waiting about the place, I very
soon had a good view of one which was being chased by
a Hooded Crow, and presently settled on a low tree. I
had now no doubt what they were. The whitish head,
white basal half of the tail, whitish underside of the
wings, dark band across the belly, and yellowish edgings
to the upper plumage, all convinced me that they were
the rough-legged species. Seen on the wing, the mottled
plumage of the back presented a sort of marbled appear-
ance, with alternate light and shade. Seen sitting, the
yellowish edgings predominated, making the bird look
like the light-coloured race of the Sea-Eagle which is
found in Egypt. The light underside of the wings, ex-
cepting one dark spot, is a very rare mark of distinction
from the common Buzzard. But above all, the flight is
unmistakably different. It is almost the difference be-
tween a Kestrel and a Sparrow-Hawk, the wings of
Archibuteo lagopus being long and slightly pointed,
instead of straight and round ; this feature is very notice-
able when the bird is flying away from you, the points
of the wings being directed backwards. In the rapid
beating of the wings, with alternate smooth glidings and
shootings, the Eough-legged Buzzard resembles the

286 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Hawks and Falcons rather than the Buzzards. Some-
times even he will sweep along with curved wings almost
like a Sea-Gull . The head looks less heav}^ than in the
common species. I am sorry to say that within forty-
eight hours one of these fine hirds was trapped at a
Pigeon, which was supposed to have been killed by a
Sparrow-Hawk. On December 18 and 19 I saw the
other. When disturbed, he perched on the very top of
a tall ash, from which he watched the intruder intently.
AVhile looking at the two Eough-legged Buzzards on
December 6 they were joined by a third bird, uniformly
brown in colour, and with shorter and rounder wings.
This I have little doubt was a common Buzzard." The
Eev. C. H. Fielding records three at Cobham in 1876,
two at St. Peter's, Isle of Thanet, and one at Waltham,
near Canterbury. Captain J. D. Cameron records one
that w^as shot at Woodchurch on December 24, 1879.

In the Maidstone Museum there is an immature male
procured by Colonel Franklyn, November, 1891, and he
also secured a female on November 10, 1891, both at
Hollingbourne. Mr. G. Boucher obtained an immature
male at AVrotham in November, 1891.

The following note is taken from the Standard,
November 11, 1906 : " A splendid specimen of the Eough-
legged Buzzard was shot by Mr. George May, of White-
gate Farm, Acrise, East Kent, whilst it was breakfasting
off a dead lamb. This bird is now rare as a breeding
species in England, although formerly it was not un-
common. The specimen just shot, which is to be stuffed,
is 25 inches in length, and its outspread wings measure
nearly a yard and a half from tip to tip. Its fine
plumage is brown above and greyish-white spotted with
brown beneath ; it has feathered legs, yellow toes, and

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE 287

black claws. A day or two before it was sbot it was
observed making a meal off a plmiap partridge."

Genus AQUILA, Brisson.

GOLDEN EAGLE.

Aquila clirysaetus (LinniTeus). H.N., i., p. 125
(170(3).

There is a specimen of the Golden Eagle in the Exeter
Museum which was killed in Kent, and bequeathed to
that institution by the Bev. Bower- Scott.

Genus HALIAETUS, Savigny.

WHITE- TAILED EAGLE.

Haliaetus alhicilla (Linnaeus). 8.N.^ i., p. 123

(1766).

Erne or Sea-Eagle.

This species is a frequent winter visitor to Kent, and
unfortunately it suffers for its visits. The occurrences
of it in this county, as far as possible, are here recorded.
The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett (1844) says : " It is not
infrequently seen in winter in Bomney Marsh. There is
a specimen in the collection of Dr. F. Plomley, which
was shot here (Kingston)."

In Bagshaw's General History of Kent, vol. ii., p. 147,
under St. Lawrence, near Bamsgate, at Cliff's End, it
is stated: "On February 3, 1848, an Eagle of the fish-
ing species was shot by Mr. Thomas Peake, of Cliff's
End ; it measured 7 feet across the wings, and was a

288 THE BIRDS OF KENT

remarkably fine and powerful bird. On being shot Mr.
Peake forced from its throat nearly 2 lbs. of large eels,
and it is supposed that it gorged itself so much that it
was careless of its safety, having been killed with a
common charge of Ko. 4 shot." In the Zoologist, 1849,
Mr. J. W. Hulke, records that "on February 24, 1849,
a large Eagle was seen hovering over the lower sand-
hills at Deal. From the description given by a person
who lives there, it was most probably the AVhite-tailed
Eagle."

In the British Museum there is a young male which
was obtained in Kent, and presented by Colonel Mon-
tagu. Dr. F. Plomley records a White-tailed Eagle
in Kent, in the Zoologist, January 16, 1850. The Eev.
C. H. Fielding states that one was obtained in Sheppey,
but this is under the name of the Golden Eagle ; and
another at High Halstow, near Eochester, which he
places under Erne or Sea-Eagle. Mr. W. Prentis says :
"A pair of Sea Eagles paid my district a visit in the
month of November, 1879 ; the first was a fine large
Eagle in mottled plumage and with a whitish tail.
Another Eagle was soon afterwards seen flying 150 yards
high over the district."

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, gives
a summary of these birds in that part of the county :
viz. : One Sea-Eagle shot many years ago by the Eev.
B. Austen, at Weatherless Hill, in the Minster marshes.
Three obtained at nearly the same time, now in the
Canterbury Museum, which Mr. John Bing, of Grove
Ferry, tells me he remembers having been shot near
Chilham. The late Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover, remembers
one obtained at Godmersham Park. The latest appear-
ance of this bird in Kent was in 1885 ; between that.

GOSHAWK 289

and the following year at least three were shot in the
neighbourhood. The first at Minster, November, 1885,
a fine female, 3 feet in length, and 8 feet in the stretch of
wings. Soon after this another was shot near Eastwell
Park, and is now in the possession of H.E.H. the Duke
of Edinburgh ; this latter is a male, and a young bird.
Sometime after the last bird had been shot another was
seen the marshes, and it got away, but I find from a
letter which appeared in Land and Water, January 28,
1888, that a similar bird was shot by a gentleman at
Dover about the year 1885, and is now in the collection
of Mr. Walter Bates, of Fulham. A White-tailed Eagle
was captured in Eastwell Park on December 22, 1895 ;
and another appears to have been obtained about the
same time at St. Lawrence, Kent, if not the same bird.

On March 21, 1906, Mr. E. Bartlett observed a large
White-tailed Eagle come up from Romney Marsh and
pass over in a northerly direction towards Mersham. It
was very cold at the time, and had been snowing all
the day.

Genus ASTUR, Lacepede.

GOSHAWK.

Astur i:)aliimharius (Linnaeus). >S'.-ZV., i., p. 130

(1766).

The Goshawk is evidently a very rare bird in Kent,
and the only instances recorded are as follows : The Eev.
J. Pemberton Bartlett (1844) states that it is " not
common. A good specimen was lately shot in a wood
near Sprinfield Minnis, Kent." There is a Kentish
specimen in the Exeter Museum, the bequest of the Rev.
19

290 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Bower-Scott, and according to the Eev. C. H. Fielding,
one was taken at Lydd and was in the collection of
Mr. Jell.

Genus ACCIPITER Brisson.

SPAEEOW-HAWK.

Accipitev nisus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 130
(1766).

This species is generally distributed over the county,
but is not so numerous as formerly, especially in those
parts of Kent which are Pheasant preserves. It still
breeds in the larger and more secluded woods and
plantations.

Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain, writes:
** To give some idea of the impetuosity of the flight and
stoop of the Sparrow-Hawk, I shall here insert a note
on the subject, transmitted to me by W. Oxenden
Hammond, Esq., of St. Alban's Court, near Wingham,
in Kent : —

" ' I once witnessed a circumstance wholly at variance
with the creed of all falconers, who affirm that the true
Falcons only stoop and strike their prey, while the short-
winged Hawks chase and clutch. Three or four years
ago I was driving towards Dover, when suddenly a
Sparrow-Hawk, with a stoop like a Falcon's, struck a
Lark close to my horse's head. The Lark fell as a
Grouse or a Partridge will fall to a Falcon or Tiercel ;
and the Sparrow-Hawk did not attempt to carry, but
held on his way. I jumped down and picked up the hodij
of the Lark and the head, the two being entirely dis-
united. The velocity and force of the stoop must have

SPARROW-HAWK 291

been tremendous. I have often seen Grouse and Par-
tridges ripped up the back and neck, and the skull laid
bare ; but I never saw a head taken clean off before.' "

In February or March, 1902, Mr. K. J. Balston was
lying up for AVood-Pigeons in Bishop's Wood, East Kent.
A friend who was with him had a " decoy " up in an oak
tree. A Sparrow-Hawk saw it and stooped to it, and
when he found it was not a real bird he turned, but was
shot.

Lord Clifton mentions a white Sparrow-Hawk, slightly
mottled with brown, among the birds observed at
Cobham, Kent.

Mr. A. Kennard, writing to the Zoologist, 1886, says :
" This summer (1886), near Beckenham, Kent, I found
a Sparrow-Hawk's nest in a fir tree, containing no less
than eight eggs. The nest apparently was not an appro-
priated one, as is often the case, but was bailt by the
Hawk. It was composed of sticks and lined with a few
oak leaves. The number of eggs laid is sufficiently
unusual, I think."

In his notes on the birds of Kent {Zoologist, 1896),
Captain Boyd Alexander gives the following details re-
specting the Sparrow-Hawk, which he says "is still
numerous. The thick portions of the Bedgebury and
Hemsted Woods often defy the keeper's search, and con-
sequently not a few broods reared in these localities escape
at least premature destruction. In this neighbourhood
the nest is invariably placed at the base of two forked
branches which jut out of the main stem of a fir or larch
tree, and from 25 to 30 feet from the ground. The front
of the nest always faces the warmer side, while the back
is usually protected by the main stem of the tree. Dur-
ing winter the old nest is resorted to as a roosting place.

292 THE BIRDS OF KENT

In this way they often fall victhns to the trap placed on
the nest by the keepers. By the time the breeding
season comes round again the winter storms have re-
duced the nest to a mere ragged bundle of sticks. On
this foundation the new nest is occasionally built^
although the general custom of this species is to build
an entirely new one. Many authorities have stated that
a deserted Crow's nest or Wood-Pigeon's nest is made
use of. I have never found it to be the case in this
neighbourhood."

Respecting the velocity of the flight of this species, a.
curious instance is related in the Daily Chronicle, March
14, 1907 :—

" Hawk's last Chase. — So great was the force with
which a Sparrow-Hawk in chase of a small bird darted
against a plate glass window at Lord Northbourne's
Mansion, Betteshanger, near Deal, that a circular hole
was smashed in the window, and the glass scattered ta
a distance of 18 feet. The Hawk's neck was broken."

Genus MILYUS, Cuvier.
KITE.

Milvus milvus (Linnaeus). S.N., I, p. 126 (1766)..

The Kite is now an extremely rare bird in Kent,
although in days gone by it used to be a regular-
visitant. Boys, in 1792, includes this bird in his History
of Sandicich. The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844,
states that it is " rare." According to Morris, one was
obtained at Sydenham in 1835. There is a Kentish
specimen in the Exeter Museum, the bequest of the
Rev. Bower-Scott.

HONEY-BUZZARD 293

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says : " The
Kite, ' Common ' Kite, as it is sometimes called, is a very
rare bird now. The old inhabitants of Canterbury used
to see this beautiful bird sailing along over the Sturry
Marshes, and there are some specimens in the Canterbury
Museum that were probably shot in the neighbourhood.
One of these birds was seen in 1867, and I believe one
has been seen since."

Mr. E. T. Fihuer states that " sometime about the
year 1876, Mr. Washford, late of Euckinge Kailway
Crossing and now of the Bridge Cottage, Euckinge,
pointed out to me a pair of these birds sailing around
each other, far above the summer clouds " ; and the Eev.
C. H. Fielding gives the following locahties in which it
has been observed : Chffe (1881), Eamsgate (1887), and
Eodmersham, Kent. Dr. A. G. Butler states : " I once
saw this bird circling over a poultry yard at Sittingbourne,
in Kent, but probably it was not hungry, as it suddenly
turned and soared out of sight." Mr. G. Dowker, in
his Birds of East Kent, 1889, writes : " Smce writing
my notes on this bird, a fine male specimen of the Kite
has been killed in the neighbourhood (Stourmouth) and is
in the possession of J. C. Kay, Esq., of Godmersham."

Genus PERNIS, Cuvier.
HONEY-BUZZAKD.

Pernis apivoriis (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 30 (1766).

This species, like the Kite, is seldom met with in Kent,
and is soon made a victim of its visits.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, includes the
Honey-Buzzard. Mr. J. P. Wilmot, in his notes on this

294 THE BIRDS OF KENT

bird in the Zoologist, 1844, p. 440, says: "When I was
at Timbridge Wells, some eight or ten years ago, I saw
the handsomest specimen I ever did see of this species,
in the possession of an amateur bird-stuffer of that place.
He informed me that it was killed in Lord Abergavenny's
park in the neighbourhood, and that within a few years
preceding several specimens had been obtained in the
same locality." In the Zoologist, 1844, the Eev. J. Pem-
berton Bartlett states that the kite is " rare, a speci-
men killed in the parish of Lydd is in Dr. F, Plomley's
collection." There is a Kentish specimen in the Exeter
Museum, the bequest of the Eev. Bower-Scott. The
Kev. C. H. Fielding adds Cobham (1881) ; and a specimen,
a female, was obtained at Teston, in Kent, in October,
1881, and presented to the Maidstone Museum by Mr.
lioger Leigh.

In the summer of 1885 or 1886, Mr. E. T. Filmer
states that for a long time a specimen of this rare bird
was seen in or about Bourne Wood. Eventually it was
trapped in a wasp's nest by Mr. J. Stickles, when its true
nature was recognised.

Genus HIEROFALCO, Cuvier.

ICELAND FALCON.

Hierofalco islandus (Gmelin). fi.N., i., p. 271
(1788).

The only record of the occurrence of this species (?) in
Kent is that which is contained in the Eev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett's Ornithology of Kent, 1844. He places it under
the name of Ger Falcon {Falco islandiciis) , and says it
is "rare," without any other particulars.

PEREGRINE FALCON 295

Genus FALCO, Linn^us.

PEEEGEINE FALCON.

Falco peregyinus, Tunstall. OrnWi. Brit., p. 1
(1771).

With all the persecution which so beautiful and in-
teresting a bird as the Peregrine Falcon suffers from, it
is wonderful how it persistently returns to its old haunts,
and perseveres in rearing its brood, in the most dangerous
proximity to man, for during the winter many of them
are wantonly destroyed.

This bird is used chiefly by falconers and sportsmen,
the male being called a "Tiercel," and the female a
" Falcon."

In the Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett's OrnitJioIogij of
Kent, 1844, he states that it is " not uncommon in
Komney Marsh, and occasionally to be seen about the
chffs near Dover." A male Peregrine was shot on
December 9, 1856, in the parish of Hailing, near
Rochester, and is now in the possession of the Eev.
C. W. Shepherd. Lord Clifton, of Cobham Hall,
writing in January, 1867, says : " A month or two ago
the keepers here, attracted by a great confusion among
some Rooks, came up and disturbed a large Peregrine
Falcon from a Rook which she had knocked down.
Soon afterward one of the men saw a Peregrine, prob-
ably the same, swooping down at some Pheasants that
were feeding. I myself also saw a very large Hawk
hovering about in the park, which, from its Falcon-like
shape, I conjectured was the same bird."

Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes on the birds at Rain
ham, Kent, during September and October, 1868, says :

296 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" One was seen by my brother on a marsh near the
mouth of the Medway on October 1 ; it dashed down to
a Dunhn that he had just wounded, but did not take
it, and made off on receiving a long shot. In the winter
of 1866-67 two Peregrines were obtained on this same
marsh, and others have been seen occasionally, always
in the winter months." Lord Clifton says: "On
October 18 (1868) I saw a large Peregrine Falcon flying
over Cobham Park. One was seen during the summer
of 1870 ; another about December 31, 1872."

Mr. D. T. Button, of Gravesend, writing in February,
1872, says : " Three Peregrines have come under my
notice since Christmas — one male, shot by a friend while
rabbiting ; one very large female, shot on the river, it
had just killed a Pdng Dotterel ; and one fine young
female shot last week on the river shore." There is a
male in the Maidstone Museum, obtained at Marden,
December 21, 1886, by Mr, H. Kennard, and a male pro-
cured at Lenham Heath, in December, 1892, by Mr.
'G. Haynes. Colonel H. W. Fielden, in his notes on the
Cliff Birds at Dover, 1887, says : "A pair of Peregrine
Falcons nest in the cliffs between Dover Castle and the
South Foreland, and have, I believe, reared their young
in safety this season. It has been a frequent source of
pleasure to me during the past spring to visit these
Falcons' breeding-place, as I invariably saw one, some-
times both, birds. The ' Tiercel ' was wont to resent my
intrusion, by flying overhead and screaming querulously ;
at times he would wait on within 40 or 50 yards of me.
These birds have shown me some good flights at Pigeons
this year. I was at first somewhat puzzled where these
Pigeons came from, because all I saw flown at were
evidently home-bred birds, and the Falcons always inter-

PEREGRINE FALCON 297

cepted them as they were flying over the Channel.
Placed on the edge of the cliff, I have watched a Pigeon
flying with steady rapid flight over the Downs, heading
southward across the sea. As the pigeon passes over the
cliffs the Falcon dashes out seaward from under the cliff;
the Pigeon sees its enemy and rises high in the air, the
Falcon mounts as well ; to the inexperienced eye the
Hawk appears to be flying in an opposite direction to
the Pigeon, but when he has gained the proper altitude
down he swoops like a bolt from the sky, but the Pigeon
eludes him by dropping with incredible rapidity to the
sea. Again the Falcon rises, its evident intention being
to drive the Pigeon to the shelter of the Kentish cliffs ;
the Pigeon, seeing its course across Channel barred by
its mortal foe, seeks the shelter of the undercliff. The
Falcon now has it all its own way, and the wings and
skeletons of Pigeons which I have found at the base of
the cliffs show what heavy toll the Peregrines levy on the
Belgium and French Homing Pigeons returning to the
Continent ; for in several instances I found the name
of the owner stamped upon the inside of the primary
wing-feathers of the Pigeon, which proved to be trained
birds belonging to Belgian owners."

There are two Peregrines in the Canterbury Museum,
obtained in Kent in 1888, by Mr. AV. Oxenden Ham-
mond. J. F. Green, Esq., of the " Cedars," Lee, Kent,
has observed the Peregrine on that estate.

A male Peregrine is in the possession of E. D. de
Uphaugh, Esq., of HoHingbourne House, Kent, which
he says, writing in July, 1906, was shot about tw^enty
years ago.

298 THE BIRDS OF KENT

HOBBY.

Falco subbuteo, Linnneus. S.N., i., p. 127 (1766).

The Hobby is a comparatively rare species in Kent,
and few instances of the discovery of the nest have
been made. It is a very shy and wild bird, and is
more often seen than obtained,

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sanchvich, 1792, and
the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states
that it is " not uncommon." There is a Kentish speci-
men in the Exeter Museum, bequeathed by the Bev.
Bower- Scott. Mr. W. Prentis says : "A pair of Hobbies
in the year 1860 took possession of an old Magpie's nest
on the top of a row of elm trees at Eainham, and they
seem to have brought off their young in safety. In
the month of June, 1864, a male Hobby was shot in
a cherry orchard this side of Sittingbourne, and the
female was seen."

Lord Clifton, in 1866, writes : " As the persevering
extirpation of all birds of prey has made the Hobby
rather rare, the fact of three being seen together may
be of interest ; they resort every year to a wood near
Bochester, which is only used as a fox cover, where
I observed them one day last August. Their cry is
very shrill, unlike that of other Hawks, though some-
times they utter a note like that of the Kestrel's. They
are extremely active and restless, continually chasing
each other. There could be no doubt of this species,
from the note and the length of the wings. They have
seldom been shot at ; I have only heard of one being
killed ; probably they breed there.

" On August 31, 1867, I revisited the wood where
I saw the three Hobbies together last year, and saw

MERLIN 299

two, if not three, there, certainly two together. If, as
I infer, they breed there, the young birds must disperse
themselves over the country, for we never see more
than two or three. I was much pleased, on September 6,
to meet with one close to Cobham, for the above-
mentioned wood is in quite a different district and on
a different soil, quite isolated from other woods. This
Hobby came over my head as I was returning from
shooting. In the excitement of the moment I fired
at him, but fortunately, owing to the height he was
at, did not hurt him. On returning to the spot next
day I found him as often as I liked, for he is by no
means a timid Hawk, and spends most of his time
in the air looking for prey, flying with outspread wings
in graceful swoops. His Swift-like wings and short
tail distinguish him from other small Hawks. I saw
him hanging almost motionless in the face of the wnnd,
rather like a Kestrel, scarcely moving the wings. On
September 4, 1868, as usual, the Hobbies are to be seen
in their old quarters, and the same number — three.

" I have not observed this bird in the immediate neigh-
bourhood this year, 1871 ; but at the beginning of this
month (September, 1871) three Hobbies, the invariable
number, were seen at their old haunt, Chattendeu
Woods, in the parish of Frindsbury."

In 1902 and 1903 the Hobby was observed in the
Orlestone district.

MEELIN.

Falco cEsalon, Tunstall. OniitJi. Brit., p. 1 (1771).
Blue Hawk.

The Merlin is only an autumn and winter visitor to
Kent, generally keeping to the more open woods, leaving

300 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the county in the spring for its more northern breeding
haunts. In Kent it is called the " Blue Hawk," from
the slate-grey colour of its plumage.

In Mr. W. H. Power's Birds Observed at Rainham,
Kent, he says : While walking on the marshes one day in
September (1865) last, I heard some Eedshanks in a
creek making a great noise, evidently being in a state of
great alarm ; presently a single Kedshank appeared,
shooting along within a few feet of the surface of the
mud, and shrieking with fear ; close behind him came a
Merlin in hot pursuit. The Kedshank, in his terror, flew
up a blmd creek, and finding no outlet, settled on the
mud, where he remained, while the Merlin wheeled
over, without, however, attempting to strike him ; but
at length, catching sight of me, he went off, leaving
the Redshank still on the mud, from which he did not
attempt to move until I started him. The wonderful
speed and activity of the Merlin were here well displayed
by the manner in which he followed, in all its doublings,
a bird of such rapid and irregular flight as a Kedshank,
and I fully believe the latter would hardly have escaped
had not I appeared upon the scene."

Mr. J. Hunter records a male Merlin that was shot
at Faversham on November 3, 1868. According to Mr.
F. D. Power, of Kainham, the " first Merlin observed
was on October 12, 1868 ; but is a rare species here,
although a pair used to frequent a particular wood every
winter for some years ; they first failed in 1867, and had
not appeared this year at the end of October." There is
a specimen in the Maidstone Museum obtained at Tovil,
by Mr. H. Kennard. Lord Clifton says it was seen during
the winter, and again in the spring of 1871. As usual,
in November and December (1876), the gamekeepers here

EED-FOOTED FALCON 301

obtained a single female Merlin, which was found dead.
Again in 1875 he observed a Merlin on the marshes. On
February 4, he says : " I saw a magnificent old male
Merlin here (Cobham)." It is included in the Birds of
Higham, by the Kev. C. H. Fielding.

A female was obtained in the Orlestone district, March
10, 1902, and another female in 1906. A male merlin
was taken alive at Ivychurch, on December 28, 1906, by
Mr. E. G. Rogers. This bird was bhnd with both eyes.

Genus TINNUNCULUS, Vieillot.

EED-FOOTED FALCON.

Tinnunculus vespertinus (Linn^us). S.N., i.,
p. 129 (1766).

There appears to be only one authentic instance of the
occurrence of the Eed-footed Falcon in Kent, which is
recorded in the Zoologist, 1862, by Mr. W. Oxenden
Hammond, of St. Alban's Court, Wingham, Kent : " An
adult female of the Orange-legged Hobby was killed at
Sandling Park, near Hythe, in the early part of this
summer. I saw the bird soon after, but as I beheve its
occurrence in this instance has not been recorded, I
asked permission to notify it."

In the Zoologist, 1871, Lord Clifton gives a long
account of a supposed pair of Orange-legged Hobbies
which he saw at Cobham in August, 1869.

302 THE BIRDS OF KENT

KESTKEL.

Tinnunculus tinnunculus (Linnaeus). S.N., i.,
p. 127 (1766).

Windsucker, Windbibber, Wind-hover.

The well-known Kestrel is distributed sparingly
throughout the county, and breeds in all the most
suitable localities.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
states that " the Kestrel is the commonest of all the
Hawk tribe which we have in Kent, and is known
commonly by the name of AVind-hover, from the extra-
ordinary power it possesses of poising itself in mid-air,
and during very high winds ; from whence also, in some
counties, it is called ' Stannel ' or ' Stand Gale.' The
Kestrel is included in the Birds Observed at Eainham,
by Mr. W. H. Power, who says : " A pair of these birds
in the autumn took possession of the roof of a solitary
shed -that had been erected on the marshes for the use
of the cattle. For this post of observation a flock of
Starlings continually contended, and numerous were the
skirmishes that took place, very often ending in the
Kestrels being driven off for a time. Although I con-
stantly saw one or other of these Kestrels apparently
surrounded by the Starlings, yet I never observed the
slightest attempt on their part to retaliate by striking
at any of their tormentors."

Mr. J. Hunter,, of Faversham, writing on the large
game of the Kestrel, says : " On November 28, 1867,
when strolling over the cliffs near Heme Bay, I disturbed
a Kestrel at his dinner, which on examination, I found
to consist of a Hooded Crow. He had eaten all but the

KE STEEL 303

skill and head, over which latter lie was neatly turning
the skin to finish. The eyes of the Crow were quite
bright, and the bird had evidently not long been dead.
In the same field there were many Hooded Crows feed-
ing, quite unconcerned at the presence of the enemy." It
is doubtful whether the Kestrel would attempt to kill
a bird like the Hooded Crow, it must have been found
dead by the Kestrel.

In Mr. J. E. Harting's Handbook of British Birds,
1901, it is stated that the " Kestrel occasionally nests in
hollow trees, as at Bromley in Kent, in 1876, when six
eggs were found in one nest, the usual number being
five."

Lord Clifton, writing on the late assumption of the
adult plumage by the male Kestrel, says : " About the
second week in January, 1877, a male Kestrel was shot
here (Cobham) which was hardly distinguishable from
an old female, except in the slightly smaller size and a
warm tone of rufous on the back. The tail was slightly
washed with blue, but not so much as in some old
females. Even the upper tail-coverts were rufous, and
the feathers on the nape were whitish, forming rather a
Merlin-like collar. I took it at first for a small female."
The bird mentioned above was evidently in the second
moult, and would not assume its full colours until the
spring.

Three nestling Kestrels were obtained in Kent, and
reared, and turned out to be males. It was not until the
second moult that one of them assumed the blue head,
yet all three were males from the same nest.

The Kestrel breeds in the old chalk-pits or cliffs on
the Boxley Hills, and also in the cliffs near Broadstairs.
They do occasionally take a young Pheasant from the
coops.

304 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The following note is taken from the Baihj Chronicle,
August 13, 1906 : " A pair of Kestrels have built a nest
on the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover. A local
naturalist, who was watching the birds on Saturday, had
a trying experience. One of them suddenly flew up and
began to circle about him, and was shortly joined by its
mate. The Hawks got closer and closer, and their
attitude was so threatening that the naturalist made his
way to Lydden Spout coastguard station for shelter.
The coastguards say that the birds have given a similar
scare to several W'ho have shown too close an interest in
their nest."

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says: " As
an instance of the usefulness of this bird, I may relate
that my son was one day out Partridge shooting, and
saw hovering over a turnip field a Kestrel, which he
shot, when immediately a covey of Partridges arose. He
brought it home to me in proof of its destructive quali-
ties. I assured him it would not kill any bird so large
as a Partridge, and on opening it I found its crop filled
with caterpillars, and I found the same caterpillars in
abundance in the turnip field."

LESSEE KESTEEL.

TinniLnculus cenchris (Naumann). Vog. Deutscli.,
i., p. 313 (1822).

There is but one record at present of the occurrence
of the Lesser Kestrel in Kent, which is to be found in
the Zoologist, 1877, as follows : The late Mr. C. Gordon
(May 22, 1877) states that "Mr. E. P. Eobinson has
lately presented to the Dover Museum a specimen of the

J. Smit del. et liti.

Bale &-DaTiielssoTL,Lr?- iinp.

LESSER KESTREL
TINTTUNCULUS CENCHRIS fNamxa.)

OSPREY 305

Lesser Kestrel, which was caught alive and kept for a
short time in confinement by a labourer on his farm in
the neighbourhood of Dover. The bird, which proved
to be an adult male, had one leg injured, which may have
prevented it from taking its natural prey and led to its
capture. In appearance it differs from the Common
Kestrel. In the first place, it has no markings on the
back, the colour being one rich reddish-brown. The
breast is light red, with a few markings, the more dis-
tinct ones being on the thigh-coverts; the head and tail
light ash-grey, the latter with a broad black band at the
extremity, and each feather edged with white except the
two centre ones, which are black at the tips. The claws
are white."

Genus PANDION, Savigny.
OSPEEY.

Fandion haliactus (Linn^us). S.N., i., p. 129
(1766).

There is a specimen that was killed at Bearsted, in
Kent, in the Exeter Museum, the bequest of the Kev.
Bower-Scott. The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing
in 1844, says : " A specimen in the Dover Museum was
shot in the neighbourhood, September 8, 1871." Mr.
G. E. Power says : " I obtained a specimen of the Osprey
in some marshes near Eainham. It is a male, and
apparently an immature bird. "When I first saw it some
Peewits were following and mobbing it ; afterwards it
settled on some saltings near the sea-wall, from which I
obtained an easy shot." Mr. G. Dowker records one
20

306 THE BIRDS OF KEKT

procured by the Eev. B. Austen from the Isle of Thanet.
Mr. W. Prentis mentions one in the parish of Upchurch,
near Rainham. The Eev. C. H. Fielding gives Cobham
as a locality in which it had been found.

One was seen at Boxley, Kent, by the Rev. H. W.
Trower, on Sundaj^ September 9, 1894, in Major Best's
park. This, no doubt, was the bird that was secured in
Mote Park on September 10, 1894. Mr. H. Elgar gives
the following measurements of it : Length 23'6 ; tail 10"3;
wing 19'2 ; tarsus 2*3 ; culmen 16. It was an immature
female.

Family PELECANID^.

Genus PHALACROCORAX, Brisson.

CORMORANT.

Phalacrocorax carlo (Linnseus). S.N., i., p. 216

(1766).

Coal Goose.

This powerful diver and swimmer may be seen more
often than obtained along the coast of Kent. It is only
an occasional visitor, and the majority of specimens pro-
cured are immature birds.

It is included in Boys' Birds of Sandivicli, 1792.
The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states
that it is rare, "a specimen shot in Romney Marsh is pre-
served in Dr. F. Plomley's collection." Mr. G. Dowker,
in the Birds of East Kent, says : " The Cormorant is
only a visitor to our shores."

SHAG 307

There is a female in Mr. Henry Payne's collection,
which was shot at Gillingham, January 5, 1894, and
Mr. H. Elgar states that the galar pouch contained three
viviparous Blenny, length 8*5 and 4 inches.

Mr. W. Prentis, writing in 1894, says : " It is only
during the last five or six years that the Cormorant has
become plentiful on our river, the Medway ; it may be
that they are getting more numerous round the coast."

Mr. J. E. Green, in his notes on the birds of the
"Cedars," Lee, Kent, gives a solitary instance of the
Cormorant having visited that estate.

A Cormorant was taken in the Hythe Canal by Mr. F.
Young, in October, 1870, and recorded by the late Mr. C.
Gordon.

SHAG.

Phalacrocorax graculus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 217

(1766).

Cole Goose.

This species, being one of our most northern birds,
and being able to stand the most severe weather, is
seldom found in the estuaries of our rivers, being more
often found on the rocky coast, keeping always out at
sea.

The Shag is included in Boys' Birds of Sandwich,
1792.

Mr. W. Prentis says : " The Shag has, to my know-
ledge, been observed on the Medway and shot on one or
two occasions."

308 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus SULA, Brisson.

GANNET.

Sida bassana (Linnaeus). S.N.., i., p. 217 (1766).
Solan Goose.

The Gannet is frequently seen along the coast of Kent,
and has been obtained on many occasions, not only on
the sea-coast, but accidentally inland.

Boys, in his History of Sandwich, 1792, records two
instances at Sandwich and Dover. The Eev. J. Pem-
berton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it is "common" in
Romney Marsh, which is confirmed by the following
account, which I have received from Dr. F. Plomley.
" In westerly wunds," he says, "the Gannet is very com-
monly driven on shore. I have had very many fine
specimens brought to me, one of which I sent to the
Zoological Gardens a year or two since."

Mr. R. 0. White, writing on March 5, 1847, from Dart-
ford, says : " A few days since a Gannet was brought to
me which had been captured by a shepherd in a turnip
field, about three miles from this place. The man had
much difficulty in securing it, and his hands were torn
in many places by its beak. The fact of it not flying
when he approached it, and of there being no food in its
stomach, induced me to suppose it was weakened by
hunger. I hardly know whether the circumstance is
worth writing about, but I have neither seen nor heard
of it occurring so far up the Thames, and the field
in which it was caught was fully five miles from the
river."

In 1868 Mr. John Hunter says that " at the end
of September, 1867, a man found a Gannet, in the

HERON 309

plumage of the first year, behind the sea-wall on Whit-
stable Flats. The bird, although apparently unwounded,
was stupid enough to allow itself to be knocked on the
head with a stick."

One was killed by a fox on the hills near Trosley,
Kent ; it was supposed to have been blown inland by
a heavy gale. A labourer made a pie of it, thinking it
was a wild goose.

The audacity of the Gannet is reported in several news-
papers. On Saturday, December 22, 1906, " an angler,
while fishing at Dover, captured a fine Gannet, which
swooped down and took his catch, hook and all."

Family ARDEID^.

Genus ARDEA, Brisson.

HEKON.

Ardea cinerea, Linnseus. S.N., i., p. 236 (1766).
Hern, Grey Hern.

The Heron is well known throughout the county, and
may be seen on all the large rivers, lakes, and along
the sea-coast nearly all the year round, but not in large
numbers.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
states : " Young birds of this species were common
during July, 1866, but were, as usual, very shy. I only
succeeded in getting at them once, shooting two one
morning before breakfast. On July 10 I saw five flying
together."

In Lord Darnley's park at Cobham there is a Heronry

310 THE BIRDS OF KENT

which is very old. Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East
Kent, says: "We have one Heronry at Chilham Castle,
which is known to have been in existence for the last
one hundred and twenty years ; they build here in lofty
beech and ash trees, and they make their nests in the
highest branches, nearly 100 feet from the ground ; at
present (1889) there are about seventy birds in the
breeding season."

Mr. J. E. Harting {Zoologist, 1872) states that "in
the grounds of P. R. Hoare, Esq., at Kelsey Manor,
Beckenham, Kent, there are always one or two nests
annually, built in very aged Scotch firs, which hang over
the lake." There is another in Penshurst Park. Mr.
B. G. Rogers procured a Heron at Snargate on January 2,
1907.

PURPLE HERON.

Ardea purpiu'ea, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 236
(1766).

This species is a rare visitor to Kent, and it is some
years since one has been seen or obtained. Dr. F.
Plomley, writing in 1847, states that he procured a
young bird at Lydd in September, 1838, and also "a
splendid specimen in the most perfect plumage, which
was shot at Lydd, in Romney Marsh, March 26 (1847),
and is in my collection." These birds are in his collec-
tion in the Dover Museum.

Mr. W. Prentis mentions an immature bird that was
shot some years ago near the River Swale.

GREAT WHITE HERON 311

GEEAT WHITE HERON.

Ardea alba, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 239 (1766).

Writing in 1844, the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states
that the Great White Heron " has been seen in Romney
Marsh." And Mr. J. B. EUman, in writing to the
Zoologist, 1849, says: "A wild-fowl shooter yesterday
(March 4, 1849) informed me that during the last moon
he shot at a White Heron in Romney Marsh, while
after wild-fowl ; but it was so shy that he could not get
near enough to kill it. He said it was as large as a
common Heron, and white all over. I at first thought
he was mistaken, and suggested it to have been a Spoon-
bill, but he says not, as he knows that bird well, and is
positive the one he saw was a White Heron."

BUFF-BACKED HERON.

Ardea huhulcus, Audouin. Expl. Sonwi. PL Ois.
de VEcjypte, i., p. 298 (1825).

There is a specimen of this species in the Maidstone
Museum labelled Kent, presented by Mr. G. Simmons,
and without data.

SQUACCO HERON.

Ardea ralloides, Scopoli. Ann. I. Hist. Nat.,
p. 88, No. 121 (1769).

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst records that on June 19, 1903,
" an adult female Squacco Heron was shot near East
Guildford, in Romney Marsh " ; this part of the Marsh
is in Sussex, but is under the jurisdiction of Kent.

312 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus ARDETTA, G. E. Gray.
LITTLE BITTERN.

Ardetta oninuta (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 240 (1766).

Very few instances of the occurrence of the Little
Bittern have been mentioned in Kent.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says :
" It has been shot in Kent." There is a specimen in the
Exeter Museum obtained in Kent, the bequest of the
Rev. Bower- Scott ; another obtained at Preston Marshes
m Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's collection, now in the
Canterbury Museum ; and one procured at Elmstone,
in the Rev. W. B. Delmar's collection.

Genus NYCTICORAX, Stephens.

NIGHT-HERON.

Nycticorax griseus (Linnasus). S.N., i., p. 329
(1766).

Several instances are recorded of the Night-Heron in
Kent.

The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that
" one or two specimens have been obtained in Kent.
Dr. F. Plomley has one which was shot in the parish of
Lydd." There is one which was obtained in Kent in the
Exeter Museum, the bequest of the Rev. Bower- Scott.
Two Kentish specimens are in the Maidstone Museum,
presented by Mr. G. Simmons. Mr. G. Dowker records
it from Minster in 1882.

At a meeting of the Zoological Society, held January
15, 1884, the Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. H.

BITTERN 313

Whitely, an immature bird of the Night-Heron, which
had been shot in Plumstead Marshes, Kent, in December,
1883.

Genus BOTAURUS, Stephens.

BITTERN.

Botauvus stellaris (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 239
(1776).

The Bittern was a frequent visitor to Kent before the
draining of the large marshes, but even now they are
occasionally taken in the more secluded lakes and over-
grown swamps.

Boys includes it in the Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says it is
" not common." It is recorded from Cobham in 1848.
A female was shot at Swanscombe in 1853, and recorded
by Mr. W. Cooke. Mr. E. Newman mentions an ex-
tremely fine male which was killed in 1864 at Orpington,
Kent, and another in Kent in 1875. Mr. G. Dowker adds
it to the birds of Stourmouth. A specimen now in the
collection of Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond, at Canterbury,
was obtained at Wadnall Wood, Everington, Kent. It
was obtained at Queensborough and Stoke in 1884 ;
Snodland and Cooling in 1890. Mr. E. J. Balston
procured it at Headcorn, January 4, 1890, and another
at Pluckley, Kent, December 22, 1899 ; the former is in
the Maidstone Museum, the latter was spoilt, as the
retriever would not fetch it off the ice, which was too
thin for a man to venture upon, eventually it was got
when the ice was gone.

Mr. A. B. Earn, in writing to the Zoologist, 1899, says :

314 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" On the morning of January 14, 1897, a Mr. Nettling-
ham, having occasion to go about some wood which had
been cut in Darenth AVood, near Dartford, noticed
what he at first thought was a hen Pheasant. Closer
observation, however, proved that this was not the case.
The bird was sitting with drooping wings, neck and head
laid along the back, and with the beak pointed straight
upwards. Arming himself with a few stones he ap-
proached the bird and knocked it down at once. I saw
it alive the same evening, but it died the next morning.
This is the second specimen of this species I have seen,
and the third I have heard of as occurring in this neigh-
bourhood within the last few years."

Mr. AV. Prentis states that it has been shot on four
occasions in the Eainham district.

Mr. H. Elgar writes " that Mr. Boucher, of Maidstone,
has a Bittern which was shot at Aylesford on January
14, 1907."

AMEEICAN BITTEKN.

Botaurus lentiginosiis (Montagu). Hiippl. to
Ornith. Bid. (1813).

Mr. J. H. Gurney recorded in the Field an American
Bittern which he discovered at Canterbury, and the
following is culled from the Zoologist, 1866 ; he says :
" I saw a stuffed specimen of the North American Bittern
in the shop of Mr. Craig, bird-stuffer at Canterbury, who
appeared to consider it as only a small example of the
common Bittern, and who informed me that it was killed
twelve years ago (1854), about 3 miles from the city of
Canterbury. As I had no means of testing the accuracy

WHITE STORK 315

of this statement, and as the specimen was in bad order
from dust and exposure, I did not enquire if it was for
sale."

Family CICONIID^.

Genus CICONIA, Brisson.
WHITE STOKK.

Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus). iS.iV., i., p. 235 (1766).

The White Stork is a comparatively rare visitor to
Kent, and few records of its occurrence have been made.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandicich, 1792, gives a " single
instance at Sandwich."

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, 1844, says: "It is
rare. A specimen is in Br. F. Plomley's collection."
This bird was obtained in Romney Marsh, and is now
in the Bover Museum.

Mr. J. H. Gurney states that "on March 18, 1871
(as I learn from Mr. Gasson), a White Stork was shot
by Mr. Hearsfield at a low swampy place near Lydd, in
Kent, called ' Fairfield Brack,' within 40 rods of where
a Black Stork was shot fifteen years ago. These birds
were preserved by Mr. G. Jell, who on May 10, 1871,
sent to me a White Stork in the flesh, which was killed
about the 8th, by Mr. James Lording, in the parish of
Midley, also close to Lydd. It was walking about in
a field quite away from any water, and four or five miles
from the sea."

The Eev. C. H. Fielding adds Chalk as a locality for
this bird, and Mr. Howard Saunders says that a young
bird was shot in September, 1882, in Kent.

316 THE BIRDS OF KENT

BLACK STOEK.

Giconia nigra (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 235 (1766).

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in his Birds of Kent,
1844, states that this species " has been killed in Kent,"
and most likely it was one that was found in Romney
Marsh prior to the above date, and now in the collection
of Mr. Thornhill, of Eiddlesworth. About October, 1852,
another was recorded by Mr. Chaffey, of Dodington,
which was killed in the Weald of Kent.

In the Zoologist, May 30, 1856, Mr. E. N. Dennis
writes : " Being at Lydd, in Kent, on May 21, I saw
at the shop of a bird-preserver there, of the name of
George Jell, a fine specimen of the Black Stork, which
had been killed on or about May 5, 1856, at a place
called Fairfield Brack, near Brenzet, and but a few
miles from Lydd. The account which he gave me of
the capture of the bird was the following : Two labourers
had noticed what they supposed to be a very big Heron
about a certain spot for three weeks ; at last one said
to the other, ' Heron makes an uncommon pudding, let
us try to shoot it.' The attempt was made and the bird
was shot, and forwarded by the person into whose hands
it fell to Mr. G. Jell. It is in the collection of Mr.
Clifton Simmons."

Black Stork near Bainham. — " About the beginning
of July (1884) a large Heron-like bird, with black back
and belly white, was seen by a shepherd on an island
marsh near here. On September 8 Mr. Charles Gordon,
of Dover, being at my house, we happened to go on the
same marsh to shoot, and beside the shepherd's house
on the creek shore we found a skin of a bird very much

SPOONBILL 317

decayed, which Mr. Gordoa pronounced to be the skin
of a Black Stork. From its appearance we assumed that
it must have been lying there for about six weeks, float-
ing on the shore with the tide. I picked up the pinion
of one wing, one foot, and the skull. On questioning
the man he said that he had captured it at a small plash
of water where eels had collected, all the rest of the
ditches in the marsh, from the long warm dry weather,
being quite dried up." — Walter Prentis, Rainham {Zoo-
logist, 1884, p. 429).

Family PLATALEID^.

Genus PLATALEA, Linnaeus.

SPOONBILL.

Platalea leucorodia, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 231
(1766).

The Spoonbill was formerly very numerous in Kent,
and it is supposed that they bred in the county, especially
in the old Heronry at Cobham Hall. Of late years they
have become only occasional visitors, and are nearly
always victims of their visit.

In Pennant's Zoologij, 1812, it is stated that the Spoon-
bill was met with by " Boys on the Kentish Coast, but it
is not included in his Birds of SanchvicJi, and that another
was met with at Greenwich in August."

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says : " This
very rare straggler has been killed in Eomney Marsh,
and is in Dr. F. Plomley's collection." Mr. J. W.
Hulke, of Deal, writing to the Zoologist, June 17, 1850,
says : "A flock of six Spoonbills has frequented Sandwich

318 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Haven ; one of them has been shot by a person of Sand-
wich, and another in the Wingham Marshes (this is the
bird, no doubt, which was procured by Mr, W. 0.
Hammond in 1850), the latter was an old female ; both
were shot in the first week of June. My friend saw three
flying about in Pegwell Bay a few days since, but was
not able to get near them."

There is a specimen in the British Museum, which
was obtained in Komney Marsh in September, by Dr.
Gordon Hogg.

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, mentions
" a fine adult Spoonbill, with a buff collar and pendant
crest, that was shot on the Isle of Elmley, April 12, 1865,
and that immature specimens have been met with on
three occasions in the marshes near the River Med way."

From a note in Mr. J. Gould's Birds of Great Britain,
it appears that Mr. F. Bond told him that two Spoonbills
had been shot on October 12, 1864, near Lydd, in Kent.

In his Ornithological Notes from Romney Marsh,
Captain Boyd Alexander says : " On June 12, 1896, a
White Spoonbill appeared near the Midrips. Its appear-
ance created considerable excitement amongst several of
the fisherfolk. I have the following records of the occur-
rence of the Spoonbill in this locality : Two adult males
were shot, May 9, 1889, by two of the Southerden family.
One of these specimens was subsequently sold to Mr. G.
Gray, of Dover, for £1 . In June, 1890, a party of five
Spoonbills appeared ; but, to use the words of the fisher-
men, 'We were too greedy; we wanted the blooming
lot, and ended by getting none.' On May 24, 1891, an
immature bird was obtained. The bird now in question
was at the time of its being seen feeding along with five
Herons. I have also observed this species on the sand
in company with Gulls."

FLAMINGO 319

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst records a " young male Spoonbill
which was shot on October 25, 190'2, at Broomhill, in
Romney Marsh. It was a very small bird. Mr. Chap-
man, of Rye, to whom the bird now belongs, informs me
that it was shot just on the Sussex side of the Kent
ditch."

Genus PLEGADIS, Kaup.

GLOSSY IBIS.

Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 241

(1766).

The Glossy Ibis is a rare visitor to this county. Morris
records that Mr. Arthur Havers, of Tenterden, Kent,
says that one was killed near Reading Street, on the
border of Romney Marsh, Kent, in December, 1852 ;
another near Dartford, 1837, and one at Swanscombe,
Kent.

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst states that a young Glossy Ibis
was shot at East Guildford, in Romney Marsh, on
October 14, 1902.

Family PHGENICOPTERID^.

Genus FHCENICOFTERUS, Linn^us.

FLAMINGO.

Phcenicoioterus roseus, Pallas. Zoogra2:)hia Bosso-
Asiatica, ii., p. 207 (1811).

The Flamingo, like a great many more of the European
and African birds, will by accident cross the Channel,
therefore it is not surprising to find an occasional

320 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Flamingo, but in many instances they may be escaped
birds. The first record of one having been taken was
at Ehnley, in the Isle of Sheppey, on or about August 7,
1873, by Mr. A. J. Jackson. It was afterwards stated by
Mr. E. Newman that one of the Flamingoes had escaped
from the Zoological Society's Gardens two or three days
previous to its capture at Elmley.

But the most important record of the Flamingo in
Kent is that of Captain G. E. Shelley, pubhshed in
Yarrell's British Birds, who "informed the editor that
on August 12, 1884, when waiting for the evening flight
of Curlew, near New Eomney, an adult Flamingo flew
past with outstretched neck and legs in a south-easterly
direction, its red wings and black primaries showing
clearly in the light of the setting sun ; and his two
nephews, who put the bird up, told him they got within
fifty yards of it while it was feeding by the sea amongst
a flock of Gulls."

Family ANATID^.

Genus CHENALOPEX, Stephens.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

Chenalopax cBgyptiacus (Linnaeus). S.N., i.,p. 197

(1766).
Crocker Goose.

In the Zoologist, 1846, Dr. F. Plomley records the
occurrence of " a flock of five Egyptian Geese which had
been ranging about Eomney Marsh for some few days,
but so wild that a specimen could not be obtained ; these
birds were formerly very common, and are well known to

BEAN-GOOSE 321

the old wild-fowl shooters by the name of the ' Crocker
Goose.' " The above was written by Dr. F. Plomley, at
Lydd, Eomney Marsh, Kent, July 18, 1816.

Genus ANSER, Brisson.
GEEY-LAG GOOSE.

Anser anser (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 197 (1766).

This Goose is a winter visitor to the sea-coast and
large marshes of Kent, and has been recorded by the
following : Boys includes it in his Birds of Saiidicich,
1792. The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett says it is " com-
mon in Romney Marsh," this was written in 1841. Dr.

B. Plomley obtained it, and Mr. C. Gordon procured it
at Dover. Mr. G. Dowker mentions it among the birds
of the Stourmouth district. Mr. E. T. Filmer states
that it is a rare visitor to Romne}^ Marsh. The Eev.

C. H. Fielding gives Eainham Marshes as a locality.

BEAN-GOOSE.

Anser segetum (Gmelin). S.N., i., p. 512 (1788).

The Bean-Goose visits the sea-coast of Kent during the
winter, and is often obtained during very severe winters.

Boys adds it to his Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says it is
" common in Eomney Marsh." Those days are gone.
It is recorded by the Eev. W. B. Delmar, of Elmstone ;
Mr. H. Ullyett, at Folkestone ; Dr. F. Plomley, from
Eomney Marsh ; and Mr. G. Dowker, at Stourmouth,
1887.
21

322 THE BIRDS OF KENT

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE.

Anser hrachijrlujnclius, Baillon. Mem. de la Soc.
Roy. cVEm. d Abhev., 1833, p. 74.

This species is occasionally found on the sea-coast of
Kent ; at the same time, it may be overlooked, as Mr.
G. Dowker remarks in the subjoined note: "I doubt
not that the Pink-footed Goose has frequently been
confounded with the Bean-Goose, to which it bears a
general resemblance. I obtained one at Preston in
1887 : I find it is not noticed by any other authorities
in Kent."

WHITE-FEONTED GOOSE.

Anser albifrons (Scopoli). Ann. I. Hist. Nat., p. 69,
No. 87 (1769).

This species is a regular winter visitor and has been
known to breed in the county.

It is included in the Birds of Sandwich by Boys, 1792.
The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says
it is "common in Bomney Marsh." Mr. G. Dowker
states that it is a "visitor to the Stourmouth district."
It is also recorded at Dover by Mr. C. Gordon and Mr.
G. Gray. J. F. Green, Esq., in his Fauna of the
"Cedars," Lee, Kent, 1905, says the "Wild Geese {Anser
albifrons) which are not pinioned, nest at the pond
regularly. They eat nothing but weeds and grasses.
They are sometimes accompanied by a Heron."

BARNACLE GOOSE 323

Genus BERNICLA, Boie.

BEENT GOOSE.

Bernicla hernicla (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 198
(1766).

Clatter Goose.

The Brent Goose is the best known of the species on
the coast of Kent, generally appearing in flocks, and
•entering most of the rivers and creeks for shelter from
severe weather.

Boys includes it in the Birds of SandwicJi, 1792, where
it is called the " Clatter Goose." The Kev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett states that it " has been seen in Eomney Marsh."

Mr. G. Dowker says it is a "common winter visitor
to the Stourmouth district." It is also recorded by Mr.
C. Gordon from Dover, the Be v. B. Austen at Walmer, and
Dr. F. Plomley from Bomney Marsh. Mr. W. Prentis
says it " comes into the Bainham creeks in severe
winters in small numbers. There are two specimens in
the Maidstone Museum which were obtained by Mr.
B. J. Balston in the Swale.

BAENACLE GOOSE.

Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein). Oni. TascJie7ih.j
ii., p. 424 (1803).

This is evidently the rarest of om- winter Geese on
the coast of Kent, and appears to be almost imknown,
especially of late years. Boys adds this species to the
Birds of Sandivich, 1792. The Bev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett states that it " has been seen in Bomney

324 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Marsh." Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent^
says the "Barnacle Geese seldom visit the inland waters
and are mostly found at sea."

CANADA GOOSE.

Bernicla canadensis (Linnaeus). S-N-, i., p. 198
(1766).

There is no reason to doubt that this powerful bird of
flight comes to this country from its North American
home. Of all the smaller and weaker North American
birds which have accidently appeared in the British
Islands and are admitted among the British birds, why
should this species be excluded ? On the authority of
Mr. G. Dowker, a Canada Goose was obtained at Beach-
borough by Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond.

In the Zoologist, 1898, Mr. G. AV. Bradshaw writes :
" I had sent to me in the flesh two specimens of the
Canada Goose (Bernicla canadensis), on April 26, 1898,
which were shot out of a flock of five on the sands near
Dungeness, Kent, about a week before. They show no
signs of having been pinioned. They flew in from the
sea. The heaviest one was a male, and weighed, a week
after death, 10 lbs. 8 ozs.

Genus CYGNUS, Bechstein.

MUTE SWAN.

Cynus olor (Gmelin). S.N., i., p. 501 (1788).

The well-known Tame or Mute Swan of our rivers
and lakes, unless pinioned, finds its way all over the
country, and is therefore, especially on the sea-coast,.

WHOOPER SWAN 325

often taken for a wild bird and shot, at the same time
there is no doubt additions that occasionally arrive from
the far north during severe winters. As is well known,
this semi-domesticated Swan is found in large numbers
in a wild state in Northern Europe during the breeding
season, and visits most of the southern parts during the
winter.

Boys includes this Swan in his Birds of Sandwich,
1792. Mr. G. Dowker mentions it at Stourmouth, and
says : " Probably an escape from confinement."

POLISH SWAN.

Cygniis iimmitabilis, Yarrell. Proc. Zool. Soc,
1838, p. 19.

In 1838, Mr. AVilliam Yarrell " exhibited a specimen
of this Swan at an evening meeting of the Zoological
Society, belonging to the Kev. L. B. Larking, of Ryarsh
Vicarage, near Maidstone, which was one of four shot
on the Medway, near Snodland Church, where a flock
of thirty and several smaller flocks were seen." Mr.
Yarrell then pointed out the distinctive characters of the
bird, and described it as a new species.

WHOOPEE SWAN.

Cygnus cijgniis (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 194 (1766).

The Whooper Swan has been more often seen and
obtained in Kent than the Polish Swan, but the numbers
greatly depend upon the severity of the winters in
Northern Europe.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.

326 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Morris says : " In the year 1848 many were seen and
not a few killed in Kent, near Gravesend." There is
a specimen in Dyke Koad Museum which was shot in
Romuey Marsh in Kent, during the winter of 1859-60.

Mr. H. J. Harding, of Deal, writing to the Zoologist,
1871, says: "During the late frost about nine Swans
visited the Marshes near Deal ; three were shot, but
they were in very poor condition, weighing about 15 lbs. ;
one was a Black Swan." This latter bird had escaped
from confinement.

" The following are the dimensions of a Wild Swan
{Cygniis ferns) shot by me while cruising in the yacht
' Scout,' on the Medway, on February 15, 1879. From
tip to tip of wings, 7 feet 5 inches ; from point of beak
to point of tail feathers, 4 feet 5 inches ; weight, 161- lbs.
The bird flew across the bow of my boat, and was killed
by the first barrel of an 8-bore breech-loader. The
yellow on the upper part of the beak (the distinguishing
mark of a Whooper, or Wild Swan) was of a deep orange
colour, showing him to be an old bird." — W. S. N.,
Morning Telegraph, March 1, 1879.

Dr. F. Plomley found it in Eomney Marsh, Mr. C.
Gordon at Dover, and Mr. G. Dowker at Stourmouth.

About 1860 Mr. E. J. Balston shot one (immature)
on the Medway near New Hythe, below Aylesford.

BEWICK'S SAVAN.

Gijgnus bewicJcii, Yarrell. Trans. Linn. Soc, xvi.,
p. 445 (1833).

Bewick's Swan is a winter visitor, and has been
obtained in Kent on several occasions, but it is not so
numerous a species in the county as it sometimes is in
the North.

SHELDRAKE 327

The Eev.'C. H. Fielding records it from Lidsing AVoods,
near Gillingham, in Kent. The Kev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett, writing in 1844, states that Dr. F. Plomley
" has a specimen in his collection which was killed in
Eomney Marsh. One was shot by a labouring man in
the parish of Kingston, in Kent, a few years since."

A specimen in Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's collection
at Canterbury was obtained at Bourne Park, February 21,
1855. Messrs. C. Gordon and G. Gray record it from
Dover, Mr. H. Ullyett at Folkestone, and Mr. G. Dowker
at Stourmouth.

Mr. W. Prentis writes: "On January 22, 1879, an
excellent specimen was shot in an extraordinary way.
Some shooters were lying in wait for Sea-Gulls in the
shelter of a wood at Kainham, the Gulls returning from
the fields which had been manured with sprats, when a
8 wan came flying in the same direction, following the
track of the Gulls, at some height. A No. 6 shot hap-
pened to touch a wing, the bird immediately lowered,
and dropped about a quarter of a mile off. It was pur-
sued and captured."

G-eniTs TADORNA, Fleming.
SHELDEAKE.

Tadorna taclorna (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 195
(1766).

Bargander.

This beautiful Sheldrake is a constant visitor to the
sea-coast and estuaries of Kent during the winter.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandioich, 1792, under
Shieldrake or Bargander. The Eev. J. Pemberton

328 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Bartletfc, in 1844, gives this bird the name of Tadonia
helloni, and states that it "has been seen in Komney
Marsh." It has been seen and obtained by Mr. W.
Oxenden Hammond at Wingham, the Eev. B. Austen
at Wahner, Dr. F. Plomley in Eomney Marsh, and Mr.
W. Prentis at Eainham.

The following specimens are in the Maidstone Museum:
A male obtained by Mr. J. Parker in Komney Marsh,
about 1873-4 ; a female shot at Sheerness, January 27,
1887, by Mr. W. Cox ; a female shot by Mr. H. Payne
at Gillingham, November 3, 1893 ; and a male shot by
him on February 15, 1894, at the same place.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his Birds of North Kent, 1904,
states that " in the winter months there are generally
large mobs of Ducks to be seen on the Thames. For
the greater part they consist of the Wild Duck {Anas
boscas), but I have also distinguished at various times
the Common Sheld-Duck (Tadorna cornuta), the Pintail
{Dafila acuta), the Teal {Qnerquedula crecca), the Wigeon
{Mareca penelojje), and occasionally the Common Scoter
{(Edemia nigra) and the Scaup {Fuligula marila) ; and on
one occasion (February, 1904) I saw a small mob of Wild
Geese flying over from the Thames in the direction of
the Medway, but at too great a distance for me to be able
to distinguish the species. The Ducks are kept con-
tinually on the move by passing craft, and are in conse-
quence wild and shy, and not easy to get near; but,
concealed by the sea-wall, I had the good fortune to
watch for some time (February, 1904) a large flock of
fully 200 Sheld-Duck, with a small flock on the landward
side of them of about thirty Pintails. They ail floated
past within a distance of 30 yards (it was high tide at
the time) across a small inlet which rejoices in the name

RUDDY SHELDRAKE 329

of Egypt Bay. The ShelJ-Dacks were rather noisy, con-
tinually uttering a cackling note. One of them noticed
my head over the bank, and instantly gave the alarm,
with the result that all the mob were soon on the wing,
flying out towards the middle of the river."

In Hasted's History of Kent (vol. vi., p. 44, 1798) it
is stated that in "the Isle of Sheppey, the Bargander
or Chenalopex is frequently observed in it."

BUDDY SHELDEAKE.

Tadorna casarca (Linnaeus). 8.N., iii., App.,
p. 224 (1768).

This species is a rare visitor to the county, and only
one record of its occurrence of late years is given by the
Kev. Thomas Parkins (The Vicarage, Halton, Hastings),
in the Zoologist, 1884, p. 469 : " A Euddy Sheldrake was
killed on September 8 (1884), by Mr. John Southerden,
at the Midripps in Eomney Marsh, Kent, about 12 miles
from Eye. It was brought, for preservation, to Mr.
Bristowe, naturalist, of St. Leonards-on-Sea. I have
seen the bird. Bristowe informed me that it was a male,
but the black band round the neck is entirely absent,
and it has the head of a light buff, which all point to
its being a female."

830 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus MABECA, Stephens.

WIGEON.

Mareca peneloj)e (Linnccus). S.N., i., p. 202
(1766).

Pandle.

Daring the winter the Wigeon is to be found along
the sea-coast and estuaries of Kent, especially in very
severe weather, but there are very few good feeding
grounds for this bird on this coast, compared with those
on the "West of England, where the Wigeon is found in
large numbers. They are sometimes found on the inland
lakes.

Boys adds this species to the Birds of Sandioich, 1792.
The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1841, says it is
" common in Komney Marsh."

Mr. J, Gould, writing in 1873, says : " That some
W^igeons arrive on the south coast of England from their
northern breeding quarters as early as the month of
September I can affirm, since, while on a visit to A. J. B.
Beresford Hope, Esq., at Bedgebury Park, Kent, the
keeper brought in, on the 28th of that month, as nonde-
script birds, two which he had just shot, and which
proved to be young Wigeon of the year."

A specimen in the Maidstone Museum was shot by
Mr. H. Kennard, at Linton, February 13, 1889. Mr. G.
Dowker records it in the Stourmouth district.

PIKTAIL 831

Genus DAFILA, Stephens.
PINTAIL.

Dafila acuta (LimicTus). H.N., i., p. 202 (1766.)

Boys, in 1792, includes tlie Pintail among the Birds
of Sandwich. There is an adult male in the British
Museum which was obtained in Kent, from Colonel
Montagu's collection. The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
in 1844, states that it "has been seen in Romney Marsh."
Dr. F. Plomley also obtained it in this locality. Mr. A.
Skinner, writing to the Zoologist, 1869, says: "A beautiful
specimen of this rare bird was shot about 5 miles from
Faversham, on January 1-5 ; it came alone from the sea
to some ' saltings.' "

According to the Rev. C. H. Fielding it was found at
Cobham, in Kent, in 1881. Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond
procured it at Wingham. There is a male and a female
in the Maidstone Museum, obtained in Kent, from Mr.
G. Simmons' collection. Mr. G. Dowker also includes
it among the birds of the Stourmouth district. Mr. W.
Prentis says it " is much more common in the Eainham
Marshes and on the Medway." A solitary female Pintail
was seen on a pool of water in a wood at Puckinge on
April 7, 1906. On May 17 this bird was found in a
boggy place in another wood not far off. On March 28,
1907, a female Pintail was found on the same pool as
above mentioned, and presumed to be the same bird.

332 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus ANAS, Brisson.

WILD DTTCK.

Anas boscas, Linnaeus. >S'.N., i., p. 205 (1766).
Mallard.

The Wild Duck is resident in Kent and breeds in the
most suitable localities, bat during the winter large
numbers are added to those which are habitual residents.
The name Mallard appears to be the most common name
by which the Wild Duck is known in Kent. Boys, in
1792, includes the Mallard in the Birds of Sandwich.
The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it "has
been seen in Komney Marsh." There is a male, female
and young in the British Museum, from East Sutton
Park, Kent, obtained in July by W. Berry, Esq.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
says : "A few made their appearance early in September,
186.5, but soon left the neighbourhood." A specimen in
the Maidstone Museum was obtained by Mr. K. J.
Balston, in Eomney Marsh, January 3, 1885. Captain
J. D. Cameron includes it among the birds of Bethersden.
Mr. E. T. Filmer states that it is common in the Orle-
stone district. In his Birds of East Kent Mr. G. Dowker
says : " The Mallard generally breed in our marshes,
and I have known many specimens that were hybrids
with the common domestic duck. A curious small white
Mallard was shot here (Stourmouth) last winter (1888).
A Mallard constructed her nest on the top of a haystack
near here ; a curious place to choose. I have known
them also built in arable fields some distance from
water." In the Zoologist, 1891, Mr. W. Prentis relates
the following instance of a Wild Duck removing her

WILD DUCK 333

eggs: "A inovviDg machine was set to work round the
outside of a field of lucerne bordering our marsh,
diminishing the circle each time round the field, leaving
about two acres in the centre. A Wild Duck was seen
by the shepherd to fly from the piece of lucerne that was
left with something in her beak, and happening to fly
near him, she dropped a three-parts incubated egg. She
was again observed by the shepherd, and also by the
sheep-shearer, carrying another egg in her beak, this
time over the marsh wall towards the saltings ; and
again she was seen for the third time carrying an egg
in her beak in the same direction. On the mowing
machine going to work next day, and finishing the field
by removing the last piece of lucerne, the Wild Duck's
nest was discovered from which the eggs had been
removed."

A Wild Duck had a nest of fifteen eggs in September,
1898, in Surrenden Dering Park, Kent. These birds
were seen m Long Rope Woods on March 13, 1902.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds on the beach
at Dungeness, in 1902, states that this species " breeds
in numbers along the dykes and sewers, and also out on
the beach among the stunted sloe and broom bushes.
July 16 to 21 : Considerable numbers of young birds on
some of the inland patches of water."

Note. — Wild Duck. — In Hasted's iJ^s^or^ of Kent (vol .
vi., p. 167, 1798), under Milton, near Sittingbourne, is
the following: "In the north-west part of this parish,
among the marshes, there is a decoy for wild-fowl, the
only one that I know of in this part of the county. The
fowl caught in it are much esteemed for their size and
flavour. Great numbers of them are weekly taken and
sent up to London."

334 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus CHAULELASMUS, G. E. Gray.

GADWALL.

Chaulelasmus streperus (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 200

(1766).

The Gadwall is a very rare accidental visitor to Kent,
or maybe it is overlooked among the female Wild Ducks.
Boys adds it to his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.

There is a specimen, an adult male, in the British
Museum, labelled Kent, from Colonel Montagu's collec-
tion. The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in the
Zoologist, 1815, p. 1025, says : "A male specimen of the
Gadwall was shot in Romney Marsh on February 22,
1845. As far as I am able to discover, T believe this is
the first specimen obtained in Kent."

There is a Kentish specimen in the Canterbury
Museum.

Genus QUERQUEDULA, Stephens.

GAKGANEY.

Querqueclula circia (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 204
(1766).

The Garganey is more often found in Kent than the
last-named species, but it is far from being numerous.
There is one record of its having bred in the county.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.
The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it is " not
common : Dr. F. Plomley has obtained four specimens
in Romney Marsh." Mr. G. F. INIathew, writing on
May 12, 1870, says : " A friend of mine shot a fine pair

GARGANEY 335

of Garganeys, about the middle of March, 1870, near
Sheerness."

In the Zoologist, 1900, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst relates a
long account of the breeding of the Garganey in Kent.
He says : " I have the pleasure of recording, I believe
for the first time, the breeding of the Garganey in Kent.
My brother found the nest on May 2, in Eomney Marsh.
It was situated in quite a dry place in some long grass,
and between 30 to 40 yards from the nearest water.
"When first seen the nest consisted of only a few strands
of dead grass, and contained one egg. On May 3 there
were two eggs, and a lot more of grass strands had been
added to the nest, which was so well covered up and
hidden that we had some difficulty in finding it again.
On May 7 the nest contained six eggs, which were
sparsely covered with down and a few grass stems, the
nest itself, owing to its increasing size, being much more
easily seen than before. Subsequently, on May 12, we
found a second nest containmg five eggs and the remains
of a sixth, which had been broken, probably by being
trodden upon by a sheep. The nest was deserted, the
remaining eggs being glued to the nest by the contents
of the sixth, the spaces between the eggs being occupied
by a small growth of mildew. The amount of down in
this nest was much less than that in the first, but still
there was quite enough to surely identify the eggs by,
the down being quite characteristic, and wholly unlike
that of the Common Teal. I have suspected that this
bird bred in Eomney Marsh for some years, ever since
having been told by a former resident there that a pair
or two of Garganey generally turned up at a certain spot
about May 1 every year, but that so far as he knew they
did not breed."

836 THE BIRDS OF KENT

A pair of these birds, obtained in March at Shoreham,
Kent, from Mv. H. Seebohni's collection, are in the
British Musemn.

Mr. W. Prentis records " a pair of Garganey that were
shot on one of the island marshes at Rainham on
INIarch 7, 1874, and three immature birds were shot on
one of the creeks, August, 1893."

It is also noticed by Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond at
Wingham, the Rev. B. Austen at Walmer, and Mr.
II. Ullyett at Folkestone.

TEAL.

Querquedida crecca (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 204

(1766).

This handsome little Duck is a resident species in
Kent, and breeds in most of the wooded districts. After
rearing their brood they wander over the country to the
most suitable feeding grounds, returning to their nesting
haunts in the spring.

Boys records it in his Birds of SandivicJi, 1792. The
Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it is " common
in Romne}^ Marsh."

Mr. AV. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at BainJiam,
1865, states : "I saw a large flock of Teal on September
15 ; a few days later my brother killed a single bird
that rose out of one of the creeks. As a rule, very few
ducks are seen before hard w^eather sets in." Captain
J. D. Cameron adds it to the birds of Bethersden. Mr. G.
Dowker says it is common in the Stourmouth district.

It occasionally breeds in the woods at Orlestone. On
March 13, 1902, three were seen, and others have been

SHOVELLER 337

obtained since. A pair bred in a boggy wood called
Birchett, in 1905 and 1906. Some nests were generally
to be found in other large woods in the neighbourhood.

Genus SPATULA, Boie.

SHOVELLEE.

Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 200
(17G6).

The majority of Shovellers are only winter visitors to
Kent, keeping to the sea-coast and estuaries, but a few
remain to breed.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.
The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it
is "common in Eomney Marsh." Of late years it may
be looked upon as a rare bird. It was obtained at
Fordwich by Mr. W. Kennet. It is now rare according
to Mr. G. Dowker in the Stourmouth district. It visits
the Eainham Marshes, according to Mr. W. Prentis. The
Eev. C. H. Fielding states that it was found at Cobham
in 1881, and at Boughton Monchelsea in 1885.

There are two specimens, a male, an immature bird,
taken by Mr. H. Payne on August 1, 1898, at Gillingham,
and a female at the same place and date, in the Maidstone
Museum.

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, in the Zoologist, 1900, says : " On
May 3 last (1900) I put up a pair of Shovellers from a
I)iece of water in Eomney Marsh ; I got a good view of
these through my glasses, and saw them a second time
about half an hour later, when they flew back over my
head. I searched the neighbouring rush, tufts, &c., but
was unable to find any nest. On going back, however,
22

338 THE BIRDS OF KENT

to the same place on May 19, I saw the duck swimming,
followed by nine young ones a day or two old. The
drake was not visible on this occasion. So far as I am
aware, this is the first record of the Shoveller breeding
in Kent."

In the spring of 1906 a Shoveller's nest was found at
Orlestone, containing twelve eggs.

Genus FULIGULA, Stephens.
EED-CEESTED DUCK.

Fidigula rufina (Pallas). Beise, ii., App., p. 713,
No. 28 (1773).

In 1853 a flock of eighteen Eed-crested Ducks made
their appearance near Erith, and one, a female, was shot
on the estate of the Hon. W. T. T. Fiennes, and was in
his collection. This female was figured in Mr. J. Gould's
Birds of Europe.

TUFTED DUCK.

Fidigula fuligula (Linn^us). S.N., i., p. 207
(1766).

The Tufted Duck is a winter visitor to the sea-coast
and estuaries of Kent.

Boys adds it to the Birds of Sandwich, 1792. Mr. W.
Oxenden Hammond obtained it at Wingham ; the Rev.
B. Austen at Walmer; Mr. G. Dowker at Stourmouth in
1874-82-89. Mr. W. Prentis says " The Tufted Duck is
not uncommon in the creeks and marshes at Rainham in
the winter."

POCHAED 339

There is an immature male in the Maidstone Museum,
shot by Mr. H. Payne at Sheerness, February 14, 1889.
Mr. K. J. Balston shot one in the park at Clare House,
Mailing, about 1879.

SCAUP.

Fidigula marila (Linn^us). B.N., i., p. 196 (1776).

A winter visitor to the sea-coast and estuaries of Kent,
but not an abundant species like some of the other ducks.

Boys includes it in the Birds of Sandwich, 1792, and
the Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it
is common in Romney Marsh ; Mr. C. Gordon at Dover;
Dr. F. Plomley in Romney Marsh ; Mr. H. Ullyett at
Folkestone. Mr. G. Dowker obtained it in the Stour-
mouth district in 1885.

An immature male was obtained by Mr. H. Kennard,
at East Farleigh, Kent, January 29, 1879, and Mr. H.
Payne shot a female at Sheerness, December 31, 1890,
and a male at Gillingham, January 18, 1894. These three
birds are in the Maidstone Museum.

POCHARD.

Fuligida ferina (Lmnxus). S.N., l, p. 203 (1766).

Dun-Bird.

The Pochard is another winter visitor to the sea-coast
and estuaries, and at times it finds its way to some of
the larger inland lakes and ponds in Kent.

Boys adds the Pochard, or Dun-Bird, to the Birds of
Sandivich, 1792. The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844,
says it is " common in Romney Marsh." Lord Clifton,
writing from Cobham Hall, Kent, January 24, 1867, says :

340 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" Three Pochards, two drakes and a duck, made their
appearance lately on a fish-pond here, where the pearly
whiteness of their plumage excited much admiration.
They disappeared at the approach of frost. The curious
thing was that thej' never took to flight, but swam about
in the middle of the pond." A male, labelled " Kent,"
is in the British Museum. It has been obtained by Mr.
W. Oxenden Hammond at Wingham ; Mr. C. Gordon at
Dover; Dr. F. Plomley in Komney Marsh. A male in
the Maidstone Museum was shot by Mr. M. W. Martin,
on the moat at Leeds Castle, Kent, January 20, 1885.

Genus NYROCA, Fleming.
WHITE-EYED DUCK.

Nyroca ferruginea (Gmelin). 8.N., i., p. 528
(1788).

Morris, in his History of British Birds, records, on the
authority of Mr. Chaffey, that a White-eyed Duck was
killed off the coast near Dover during the .winter of
1849-50.

Genus CLANGULA, Boie.

GOLDENEYE.

Clangula gJaucion (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 201 (1766).

Morillon Duck, Boys, 1792.

The Goldeneye is only a winter visitor to the coast of
Kent.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says : " The-
females are common in Eomney Marsh, but the males.

LONG-TAILED DUCK 341

are rare." This must refer to Goldeneyes which were
in the winter plumage and young males. Morris records
an immature bird that was shot at Swanscombe, in Kent,
in 1847. The following specimens are in the Maidstone
Museum : A female, shot by Mr. J. Covenay, at Holling-
bourne, January, 1881 ; a male, by Mr. H. Kennard, at
Linton, January 18, 1888 ; a female, by Mr. H. Payne,
at Sheerness, December 20, 1890 ; a female, by the Rev.
H. W. Trower, at Boxley, January 20, 1891.

It has also been procured by Mr. G. Dowker at Stour-
mouth in 1886-89 ; Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond at
Wingham; Mr. C. Gordon at Dover; Mr. H. Ullyett
at Folkestone ; Dr. F. Plomley in Romney Marsh.

Mr. H. Elgar, writing on January 25, 1907, says :
" Mr. E. Hills came in yesterday to tell me of the occur-
rence of a Goldeneye on the Len, at the bottom of
his garden, in the Ashford Road, Maidstone."

Genus HARELDA, Stephens.

LONG-TAILED DUCK.

Harelda glacialis (Linnaeus). /S.iV., i., p. 203
(1766).

This is a rare winter visitor to the coast of Kent, and
then only in very severe weather.

The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that
"there are two specimens of this duck in Dr. F.
Plomley 's collection." Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond
obtained it at Rye. There is a pair of Kentish specimens
in the Maidstone Museum from Mr. G. Simmons' collec-
tion. Mr. G. Dowker states that "the Long-tailed
Duck is very rare indeed as a Kent bird."

342 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus SOMATERIA, Boie.

EIDEE DUCK.

Somateria mollissima (Liniic^us). ;S'.iV., i., p. 198

(176G).

The Eider Duck may be considered as an accidental
visitor to the coast of Kent in ver}^ severe weather.

Boys includes it in the Birds of Sandwich, 1792, under
the name of " Eider Goose." There is a female obtained
in Kent in the Maidstone Museum, from Mr. G.
Simmons' collection, and Mr. G. Dowker says " an Eider
Duck in the Canterbury Museum was, I believe, from
the neighbourhood."

KING DUCK.

Sonateria spectahilis (Linnaeus). >S'.A^., i., p. 195
(1766).

Mr. OHver V. Aplin, in the Zoologist, 1886, p. 835,
writes : "In the University Museum at Oxford there are
examples of two rare British birds, of which I can find
no mention in the Handbook of British Birds, or the last
edition of Yarrell's British Birds, it may, therefore,
be worth while to place them on record in the pages of
the Zoologist. An adult male King Duck is labelled
' Erith Keach, Kent. Presented by Lord Saye and
Sele.' This specimen formed part of a collection of
British birds bequeathed by the late Lord Saye and Sele
to the Ashmolean Museum in 1847, and was labelled in
that collection ' Shot in Erith Beaches, Kent.' "

BLACK SCOTER 343

Genus GEDEMIA, Fleming.

BLACK 8C0TEE.

(Edemia nigra (Linnffius). /S'.A^., i., p. 196 (1766).

This Scoter is more or less numerous on the coast and
in the estuaries of Kent during winter.

Boys adds it to the Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it is "common
in Eomney Marsh." There is a young bird in the British
Museum, obtained at Hythe, by H. J. Ehnes, Esq. The
Eev. B. Austen notes it at Wahiaer; Mr. G. Dowker at
Stourmouth. Mr. J. Gould, in the Birds of Great Britain,
states : " In the winter season we can scarcely take
a trip from Dover to Calais, or from Folkestone to
Boulogne, without the vessel steaming through little
knots of the Scoter ; while from the deck strings of forty
or more may frequently be seen passing to and fro
from one part of their feeding grounds to another.
Mr. Dann has seen flocks off Dungeness as late as the
middle of June."

In the Maidstone Museum there is a male obtained at
Lydd, January 17, 1883, by Mr. H. Kennard, also a
specimen that w^as shot on the Medway as high up as
Tovil, which is above Maidstone; another, a female, from
Gillingham, Kent, October 4, 1894, by Mr. H. Payne ;
and three males and two females procured on the lower
Medway by Mr. R. J. Balston.

Mr. J. H. Gurney, writing in the Zoologist, 1894, says :
" My remarks on the partial assumption by female birds
of male plumage {Zoologist, 1894, p. 15) has elicited from
the Rev. H. A. Macpherson a very interesting corre-
spondence, in which he mentions a female Sector, (Edemia

344 THE BIRDS OF KENT

nigra, shot and dissected by Mr. E. Barfclett, of Maid-
stone, in which the brown plumage of the upper parts
was replaced by black."

VELVET SCOTEE.

(Edemia fiisca (Linnaeus). >S'.]V., i., p. 196 (1766).

The Velvet Scoter is an occasional winter visitor to
the coast of Kent.

Boys places this bird under the name of Velvet Duck
in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792. There is a young male
in the Maidstone Museum, obtained on the Lower Med-
way, October 11, 1887, by Mr. K. J. Balston. Mr. W.
Oxenden Hammond procured it at Wingham ; Mr. C.
Gordon at Dover ; Dr. F. Plomley in Eomney Marsh ;
Mr. H. Ullyett at Folkestone ; Mr. G. Dowker at Stour-
mouth, 1888.

The Kev. C. H. Fielding mentions " a stuffed speci-
men which belonged to a countryman, who captured it
when it entered a farmyard at Frindsbury, Kent, to
feed."

Genus MERGUS, Linn^^us.
GOOSANDEE.

Mergiis merganser, Linnaeus. H.N., i., p. 208 (1766).
Dun Diver.

This bird is frequently observed and obtained along the
coast and in the estuaries of Kent, but only as a winter
visitor.

Boys adds this bird, under the name of " Dun Diver,"
to the Birds of Sandioich, 1792.

There is a specimen in the Canterbury Museum,
obtained on the Eiver Stour by Mr. W. Oxenden

RED-BREASTED MERGANZER 345

Hammond. Mr. C. Gordon procured it at Dover ; the
Eev. W. B. Delmar at Elmstone ; Mr. H. Ullyett at
Folkestone ; Dr. F. Plomley in Romney Marsh, and
Mr. G. Dowker at Stom-mouth, 1884.

There is a male Goosander in the Maidstone Museum,
obtained in Eomney Marsh on December 5, 1884, by
Mr. R. J. Balston.

EED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

Mergus serrator, Linna'ns. S.N., i., p. 208 ( 1766).

A frequent winter visitor to the coast and estuaries
of Kent, and there are many records of it having been
obtained in various localities.

Boys includes it in the Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it is
" common."

In the Zoologist, 1870, p. 2182, Mr. G. F. Mathew
says : " A friend of mine shot a magnificent pair of
Hooded Mergansers, the male of the latter species being
in splendid plumage." This remained uncorrected until
1876, when Mr. G. F. Mathew wrote to the Zoologist,
May 9, 1876 (p. 4958) as follows : "I must apologise to
Mr. J, H. Gurney for having left his question concerning
the occurrence of this species (the Hooded Merganser)
at Sheerness in March, 1870, so long unanswered. The
birds in question were merely the common Red-breasted
Merganser, the male being in fine breeding plumage. I
am sorry such a mistake should have occurred, and can
only attribute it to a slip of the pen, for I never noticed
the error myself, and am much obliged for attention
having been called to it." This correction was over-
looked by the Editor of the last edition of Yarrell's
British Birds.

346 THE BIRDS OF KENT

There is a male in the Maidstone Museum, obtained
at Heme Bay, 1872, by Mr. E. Bartlett, and a female
obtained at Sheerness, February 14, 1889, by Mr. H.
Payne.

It has been procured by Dr. F. Plomley in Eomney
Marsh ; Mr. C. Gordon at Dover ; the Eev. B. Austen
at Wahner ; Mr. H. Ullyett at Folkestone, and Mr. G.
Dowker at Stourmouth in 1886.

A male in the Maidstone Museum was shot in the
Medway on February 25, 1881, by Mr. K. J. Balston.

SMEW.

Mergus alhellus, Liniifeus. S.N., I, p. 209 (1766).
Magpie Diver ; Minute Goose.

Boys, in his Birds of ScnidicicJi, 1792, calls this bird
the Minute Goose. It is only an occasional winter
visitor to the coast of Kent.

There is a pair in the Maidstone Museum from Mr. G.
Simmons' collection ; others have been recorded by Mr. C.
Gordon at Dover ; Mr. H. Ullyett at Folkestone ; Mr. G.
Dowker at Stourmouth in 1885, and Dr. F. Plomley in
Kent.

Family COLUMBID^.

Genus COLUMBA, Limic^us.
EING-DOYE.

Columha paJumhuSj Linnaeus. /S.A^., i., p. 282

(1766).

Wood-Pigeon.
This fine large Wood-Pigeon, so easily recognised,
is one of the most abundant species of pigeons in every

RING-DOVE 347

district throughout the county. It would be difficult to
wander through the extensive woods and Pheasant pre-
serves in Kent without disturbing many pairs of these
birds, which dash out from the trees and undergrowth
and startle one. At times many may be seen on the
ploughed land and open pastures seeking food.

Their large, loosely constructed nests of sticks and
woodbine are conspicuous objects, and attract attention
the moment the bird darts off at full speed.

Dr. A. G. Butler mentions having found a nest in
some ivy, with three young ones, while in company with
Mr. Janson. This is, no doubt, a rare occurrence, for it
is well known to all naturalists that two eggs are the
complete clutch.

The voice of this bird has been variously described,
but it sounds like — cod coo coo coo coo uttered three times,
then coo A'.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
states: "In May, 1863, I took a Eing-Dove's nest out
of a hollow cherry tree in an orchard within a few
hundred yards of the marshes."

The King-Dove, or Wood-Pigeon, is very common about
Boxley, frequenting the large woods in winter, and also
the yew trees on the Boxley hills, where it breeds. It
is common on the Dering estate at Pluckley, and at
Orlestone, where one was shot weighing 1 lb. 6 ozs.
on January 30, 1902. A pair were seen at Springfield,
Maidstone, in an elm, apparently eating the buds, March
3, 1902. This species consumes a tremendous quantity
of vegetable food of many kinds, and is very destructive
to peas and cereals.

348 ' THE BIRDS OF KENT

STOCK-DOVE.

CoUmiba cBuas, Linnaeus {partim). S.N., i., p. 279

(1766).

Although this bird is to be met with occasionally in
pairs in most of the large woods throughout the county,
it is far from being a common species. It still breeds
in suitable places in the larger and more secluded woods
and plantations.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
says : " Early in July of this year (1865) I constantly
saw small flocks of these pigeons on the marshes, but,
owing to their exceeding wariness, could never get
within range ; at length one day I stalked some and
killed three, one of them a young bird about two-thirds
grown. This is, I think, presumptive that the Stock-
Dove breeds in the Kentish woods, where, although
they were formerly to be constantly found in the
autumn, they have, within the last twenty years,
become decidedly uncommon." Lord Chfton, in 1866,
stated that the Stock-Dove was "very common in the
woods at Cobham, and builds both in trees and rabbit-
holes."

Mr. T. Hepburn records, in his notes on the birds
at Dungeness, that " always a few of these birds are
about the beach feeding on the green places. May 14,
1900: I noticed one of these birds fly up from a
rabbit's burrow. Upon investigating I found its rough
nest and two young birds down the burrow."

Mr. B. T. Filmer says it is "rare in the Orlestone
district. A nest was built and young ones raised for
several years in an old, tumble-down lodge in Bourne
AVood, Kent."

TURTLE-DOVE 349

On May 8, 190G, a paiu of Stock-Doves were seen in
the woods between Euckinge and Bilsington, where they
remained during the early part of the summer, but their
nest was not discovered. This species had a nest in
old wall in the Boxley Abbey meadows in 1877 and
1878. Its note in autumn and winter is cOO, cOO, in
single syllables, and many times repeated.

ROCK-DOVE.

Columha livia, Bonnaterre. End. MetJi., i., p. 227

(1790).

The Eock-Dove is seldom seen in Kent. It is supposed
that they used to breed in the higher cliffs between Dover
and St. Margaret's Bay, but the Peregrine no doubt put
a stop to their existence in that locality. Mr. H. S. D.
Byron met with this bird in the marshes of St. Peter's,
Thanet.

Genus TURTUR, Selby.

TUETLE-DOVE.

TurtiiT turtur (Linna?ns). H.N., i., p. 284 (1766).

This beautiful Dove arrives early in May in large
numbers, and they are soon distributed throughout the
wooded districts of Kent, where they may be heard
in all directions, breeding freely in every wood and
plantation.

Their slightly constructed nests of a few twigs, held
together by a few small lengths of woodbine, are so

350 THE BIRDS OF KENT

openly made as to allow the observer to see the eggs
lying on the little platform of twigs, 7 or 8 feet from the
ground. Its arrival has been noticed on May 1, 1872,
and May 2, 1902, in Kent.

The note is cuo coo coo coo. Great numbers of these
birds frequent Snodland Marshes, no doubt for the
purpose of drinking the brackish water in hot weather.
Varieties of the Turtle-Dove are often met with, and
Lord Clifton mentions a w^hite one found at Cobham
Hall, Kent.

Family PTEROCLID^.

Genus SYRRHAPTES, Illiger.

PALLAS'S SAND-GEOUSE.

Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas). JReise Buss. BeicJis.,
ii., App., p. 712 (1773).

The records of the occurrences of Pallas's Sand-Grouse
in Kent are here subjoined, with the particulars con-
nected with their capture. The first notice is that
contained in Yarrell's British Birds, 1882-84 : "In
November, 1859, Mr. George Jell, of Lydd, in Kent,
preserved a specimen for Mr. Simmons, of East Peckham,
near Tunbridge." Perhaps this is the specimen which
is in the Maidstone Museum, presented by Mr. G.
Simmons. In the Zoologist, 1863, p. 8721, Mr. E. Young,
of Sittingbourne, Kent, writing on July 1, 1863, says :
"I have two specimens of this rare bird (male and female),
shot on June 7, 1863, at Elmley, Sheppey, from a covey
of six, and to my knowledge four have been shot out of
that number." The two above-mentioned specimens are

PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE 351

in the collection of Mr. W. Prentis, who also states that
" the year 1888 was the second Sand-Grouse year, four
were seen upon a ploughed field for several days in the
parish of Hoo, near Rochester. On December 14 a male
was picked up dead, with the head cut clean off by the
telegraph wires, on the Isle of Grain railway ; another,
I believe, was shot about the same time near Sheerness."

There is a specimen in Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's
collection, now in the Canterbury Museum, obtained in
Kent in 1888, without exact locality attached.

In the Zoologist, 1888, p. 264, Mr. J. E. Harting adds
the following note from Mr. H. S. D. Byron, of Bromstone
Farm, St. Peter's, Thanet : " Will you kindly allow me
to place on record in the Zoologist what I have not the
least doubt was an occurrence of Pallas's Sand-Grouse in
this neighbourhood (St. Peter's, Thanet). A bird was
first seen on May 30, and was then feeding on a field
of recently sown spring tares. What first attracted my
attention to it was that it did not rise and fly away when
I entered the field, as was done by several wald Eock-
Doves, which were feeding near it. However, it would
not allow a very near approach, but ran with consider-
able speed over the ground with its body close down, and
looking almost like a small animal. When at last I made
it fly, by a dog I had with me, it went at a very rapid
pace, and looked much like a Golden Plover, only larger,
uttering, as it flew, a low piping note. On the morning
of the following day (May 31), this bird again made its
appearance in the same field, but all attempts to get near
it were futile. I must not omit to say that the colour, as
seen from a distance, was light greyish-brown."

352 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family PHASIANID^.

Genus PH ASIAN US, Linmeus.

PHEASANT.

Phasianus colcliicus, Linnaeus. >S'.A^., i., p. 271
(1766).

The early history of the introduction of the Pheasant
still remains uncertain, but from all that can be gathered
it is clear that it was before the Norman conquest. It
is highly probable that it came with the Eomans, who
brought all their luxuries with them, and who remained,
and made their homes in Kent, for a considerable period
before advancing north ; therefore it is not difficult to
suppose that Kent is the real birthplace of the Pheasant,
and from this county it has gradually spread on all sides
and gone or been taken north. It is well known that
the bird is not a northern species, even in Europe.

Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, in his work on Pheasants, says:
"The Pheasant, though introduced by, or anterior to,
the Romans, is still by some Britons cherished almost as
a visible sign of a British institution."

Writing in the Zoologist, 1856, Mr. AVilliam Thomson
says : " I have received from Mr. King, of Canterbury,
an ivy-leaf (which I enclose) taken with many others
from the stomach of a hen Pheasant on January 18, 1856.
They were not all perfect, many being digested. The
crop was quite full of them, and the bird smelled and
tasted of ivy, although to all appearance in good condition
and quite healthy. There was no snow on the ground,
so the bird was not pressed for food, there being plenty
of wild blue periwinkle and ground-ivy leaves to be had.
None of the leaves appear to have been eaten by insects.
The bird was shot off a tree by the keeper, who in the

EED-LEGGED PARTEIDGE 353

dusk mistook it for a Wood-Pigeon. My friend, who has
been a sportsman since 1818, and who is a careful
observer, never remembers a similar instance of Pheasants
feeding on ivy."

By the care and attention of the keepers the woods
and plantations throughout Kent are generally well
stocked with Pheasants, but the majority of them have
a tinge of the ring-necked birds, which it is desirable, if
possible, to stamp out.

Mr. D. G. Elliot, in his great work on Pheasants, 1874,
writes : " Every preserve in England and on the Con-
tinent inhabited at all by Pheasants contains this bird,
but it is difficult to meet with one which has not at some
time or another received an infusion of foreign blood,
and consequently presents evidence in its plumage of its
ancestors having lived in the vicinity of P. torqiiatus and
P. versicolor, which species have also been largely intro-
duced into Europe. It is a matter of regret that this
hybridisation should be permitted, for it in no way im-
proves any of the species, and gives to us a race of
mongrels which, at least to an ornithologist's eye, is
anything but agreeable."

There is no doubt that the Eing-necked Pheasant has
been the cause of the deterioration in the size, weight
and beauty of the old English Black-necked Pheasant.

Genus CACCABIS, Kaup.
EED-LEGGED PAETEIDGE.

Caccahis rufa (LinnaBus). S.N., i., p. 276 (1766).

French Partridge.
This introduced species has now become established
and breeds freely throughout the county, and is evidently
23

354 THE BIRDS OF KENT

a great trouble to all true sportsmen, and is inferior in
every respect, although a trifle heavier, than our own
Partridge. It is doubtful whether the numbers are
increased in Kent by others from the Continent, but
there is no reason why a bird of such powerful flight
should not do so, especially when we know that the
Quail comes.

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, writes : " The
Red-legged Partridge has very much increased in East
Kent of late ; it is detested by the sportsman, as it keeps
running, seldom getting up within shot, spoiling the dogs'
and the sportsman's temper. I can remember the time
when it was never met with in this (Stourmouth) or the
adjoining parishes. It goes also by the name of the
French Partridge, and the notion that it occasionally
crosses over from France is strengthened from the
following circumstance. On November 13, 1884, Gisby
(an old boatman and sportsman of Eamsgate) informed
my friend, the late Mr. Hillier, that he (Gisby), while out
in his boat, saw twenty-two Partridges which flew so
near him that he could see they were red-legged, coming
over the water from the French coast, and seemed very
tired. I also remember meeting a number of these birds
about this neighbourhood, where they had not been
known or seen about earlier in the season, this being
in October, and they were so tired that they were easily
hunted down."

In the Zoologist, 1873, Mr. James Murton states that
" On the 1st inst. (August), I was visiting at Smeeth,
near Ashford, and in the course of my walks my attention
was called to two Partridge nests, in which the young
had been hatched this year. I saw at once from the
egg-shells that both were the nests of the Red-legged

PARTRIDGE 355

Partridge. These two nests were within a hundred
yards of each other. A third nest, very near the same
spot, was mentioned to me, but I had not time to go and
examine it. It appears that this species of Partridge is
on the increase in Kent, and being difficult to shoot,
will soon abound to the exclusion of the more valued
Enghsh Partridge."— August 11, 1873.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds at Dunge-
ness, writes : " May 13, 1900, found a nest of this species
built on the bank of one of the big sewers which drain
the marsh-land. Also saw several of the birds out on
the beach."

Genus PERDIX, Brisson.
PAETEIDGE.

Ferdix perdix (Limic'eus). ^S'.iV., i., p. 27G (1766).

The well-known Partridge, especially to all lovers of
sport, and for the table, is still abundant throughout the
county, breeding in every district, whether preserved or
not. With regard to the size and weight of this bird
Mr. J. Gould writes: "A. Partridge exceeding a pound
in weight is rarely met with, in the whole course of my
shooting I never killed but one, this was at Preston Hall
in Kent."

In Yarrell's British Birds it is stated that " dry
summers are particularly favourable to the breeding of
Partridges." This depends on the soil, as to their living,
because on clay soils the young birds are liable to fall
into the large cracks in the earth.

Mr. J. W. Hulke, of Deal, in writing to the Zoologist,
1849, on the migration of the Common Partridge,
says : " On November 29, 1848, some men in a fishing

356 THE BIRDS OF KENT

boat of this place (Deal) saw a covey of Partridges
coming towards them (as if from France) ; one, more ex-
hausted than the rest, fell into the boat ; the rest reached
the shore in safety." Many varieties of the Partridge
are obtained during a season, some being pure white,
some having white wings, or mottled with white. Lord
Clifton mentions a buff-coloured bird obtained at Cobham,
Kent.

On May 15, 1906, a Partridge took to laying eggs in
a wooden moveable fowl-house, placed in a field in
Romney Marsh, and in the same house a wild Eabbit
reared a litter of young ones.

Grenus COTURNIX, Bonnaterre.

QUAIL.

Coturnix coturnix (Linnasus). S.N., i., p. 278
(1766).

The Quail appears to be an irregular visitor to Kent,.
at the same time it has been found to breed on the
more open hills and rough, sandy places in the county.

Boys includes it in the Birds of Sanchvich, 1792, and
the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it is.
" not common in Kent."

This species was seen by Mr. E. J. Balston at Thurn-
ham, in Kent, on Sir G. Hampson's property, who in-
formed him that a bevy was generally to be found there.
Four occurred on Major Best's property at Boxley, twa
of which were shot, September, 1871, and one he found
in some swedes on Tyland Farm (Lord Aylesford's land),
September, 1871. In August, 1873, he used to hear
them calling in the evening and supposed they must

BLACK GROUSE 357

have bred on Tyland Farm. It has been found at Cob-
ham in Kent. Mr. G. Dowker speaks of the Quail being
exceedingly irregular in its visits, and mentions 1863 and
1887, evidently exceptional years for it.

There is a female in the Maidstone Museum, obtained
at Hollingbourne in October, 1892, by Colonel Franklyn,
and a male obtained at Teston, in Kent, November, 1893,
by Colonel Ward.

FamHy TETRAONID^.

Genus LAGOPUS, Brisson.

BED GEOUSE.

Lagopics scoticus (Latham). Ind. Orn., ii., p. 641

(1790).

The Eed Grouse being a resident in the north of
England and Scotland, seldom or never makes a passage
south. Mr. G. Dowker, however, in his Birds of East
Kent, records an instance of its occurrence in the county,
and states that " Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond shot a
specimen of the Eed Grouse at Knowlton."

Genus TETRAO, Linnaeus.

BLACK GEOUSE.

Tetrao tetrix, Linnaeus. S.N., l, p. 274 (1766).

The only evidence of a very early existence of the
Black Grouse in Kent are the subjoined particulars,
culled from the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds,
viz.: "Although at the present day the word Grouse,

358 THE BIRDS OF KENT

when used alone, is applied in common parlance to the
Red Grouse {Lagopus scoticus), yet it would appear from
Professor Newton's researches that the earliest record of
its employment is with reference to the present species."
"It first seems to occur {vide 0. Salusbury Brereton,
Archceologia , iii., p. 157) as 'grows ' in an ordinance for
the regulation of the royal household dated ' apud
Eltham, mens. Jan. 22, Hen. VIII.,' i.e., 1531, and,
considering the locality, must refer to Black Game."
"The increase of population, the enclosure of wastes,
and the drainage of boggy lands, have combined to
curtail the area over which the Black Grouse formerly
roamed in the south of England, and neither Eltham —
once a favourite resort of Plantagenet and Tudor
sovereigns — nor any other part of Kent can now show
any indigenous birds."

Family RALLID^.

Genus R ALL US, Linn^us.

WATEE-KAIL.

Rallus aquaticus, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 262
(1766).

This bird is far from being plentiful in any part of
Kent, and it appears from the records to hand that most
of the specimens have been obtained in late autumn and
winter.

Boys records it among the Birds of Sandioich, 1792.
In the Zoologist, 1844, the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
writes : " I observe in the Zoologist for this month
{Zoologist, 575) a note by Mr. Hussey on the Water-

WATER-RAIL 359

Kail, in which he mentions that Mr. Yarrell speaks
doubtfully as to whether Water-Rails remain in England
during winter. Perhaps you would be good enough to
add, under Balliis aquaticus, in my list of Kentish birds
{Zoologist, 625), the following confirmation of Mr.
Hussey's opinion, that they do remain here all the winter.
While walking by a small stream in this neighbourhood
(Kingston), in the early part of last December, a retriever
which accompanied me caught in an old hedge a small
Water-Eail, which, with considerable satisfaction, she
laid at my feet. A few weeks after, near the same spot,
she caught the female. I am quite of opinion that these
birds are resident here all the winter. In fact, from
finding them at different times during the lointer, I
cannot doubt that some at least remain throughout the
year in England."

There is a female in the British Museum which was
obtained at Dangeness on November 14, by Colonel
Irby. A female obtained on Boxley Hills, in Kent, on
November 15, 1884, by Mr. A. F. Style, is in the Maid-
stone Museum, also two males obtained at Pluckley, in
Kent, December, 1894, by Mr. E. J. Balston. Mr. G.
Dowker writes that the " Water-Rails are tolerably
abundant, and excellent eating," that is, in the Stourmouth
district. Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Eainkam, says :
" Almost every winter our Marsh ditches and spring
water-courses contain a Water-Rail or two." Mr. R. T.
Eilmer states that the Water-Rail is " rare, usually one
can be seen in a walk through Romney Marsh, from
Appledore to Rye. One was shot below the Military
Canal, in Romney Marsh, on December 11, 190G. Mr.
R. J. Balston shot one on Boarley Farm, Boxley, on
January 29, 1872, which proved excellent eating.

360 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus PORZANA, Vieillot.

SPOTTED CRAKE.

Porzana porzana (Linnseus). >S'.A^., i., p. 262
(1766).

Morris, in his History of British Birds, states that
" Mr. E. Blyth saw one in the London roarket in
January, 1834, which was said to have come from Kent."
The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says
the Spotted Crake is "common in autumn in Eomney
Marsh."

There is a specimen in the Maidstone Museum, obtained
at Hythe, in Kent, by Mr. J. R. Price.

In the Zoologist, 1891, Mr. 0. V. Aplin contributed
an article on The Distribution in the British Islands of
the Spotted CraJce, from which is subjoined a note under
Kent: "In reply to my request for information (Zoologist,
1870, p. 457), Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond, of St. Alban's
Court, near Wingham, has been good enough to send
me the following note : ' I can give none with reference
to its breeding in this neighbourhood, although in the wet
summer of 1880 (I think that was the year), I remember
killing one in the flooded marshes at Stodmarsh, near
Canterbury, in July, the marshes being full of Snipe.
From the season, this bird had probably bred. I have
killed several, at different times, in the marshes at
Wingham. It is rather a curious coincidence that, having
read your article on this bird in the Zoologist in the
evening, I went to shoot Snipe the next morning
(November 1), and in the course of the day killed a
Spotted Crake.' " The specimen now in the Canterbury
Museum, labelled Wingham, no doubt is the bird men-
tioned above. Mr. W. Prentis states that " our Eainham

CORN-CR kKE 361

marsh is not always without a Spotted-Kail ; when they
appear it is in the autumn, generally in the month of
October."

BAILLON'S CEAKE.

Porzana hailloni (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet. cVHist.
Nat., xxviii., p. 548 (1819).

Baillon's Crake is a rare visitor to Kent, and few
instances of its occurrence are recorded. The earliest
notice is that which is given by Mr. C. A. Delmar in the
Zoologist, 1850, who writes : " On September 19, 1850,
I obtained a beautiful specimen of Baillon's Crake in
the marshes near Deal, in Kent." Mr. J. W. Hulke, of
Deal, January 15, 1851, states: "In the latter part of
October last (1850), my friend, Mr. C. A. Delmar, obtained
a second specimen of Baillon's Crake, not far from the
spot where he procured one in the September previous.
It is now in my possession."

According to Mr. C. Gordon, a Baillon's Crake was
taken in the Hythe Canal by Mr. F. Young, in October,
1870. In the Kentish Express and Ashford Neivs,
December 22, 1906, it is stated that " a specimen
of Baillon's Crake was shot near Lydd on Friday,
December 21, by Captain R. Alexander."

Genus CREX, Bechstein.

COKN-CEAKE.

Crex crex (LiniicTus). S.N., i., p. 251 (1766).
Land-Eail.

The Corn-Crake on its arrival soon becomes scattered
over the county, and is to be found in all the fields and

362 THE BIRDS OF KENT

meadows laid down for hay, where its ventriloquia], grat-
ing call-note may be frequently heard.

Writing in 1844, the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states
that this bird was " not common."

Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes on the birds at Kainham,
says: "One flushed in the woods on October ], 1868."
Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond relates that an " extra-
ordinary flight of Land-Rails " occurred in 1869 : " Have
you heard of the extraordinary flight of Land-Eails which
visited this neighbourhood (Wingham) in the early part
of September last '? Land-Tvails are usually very sparsely
distributed through this district — an open, corn-growing
country — and three or four in a season are about as
many as I usually meet with. During the first week of
September I found upwards of thirty in three days, and
on a neighbouring property the owner killed upwards of
fifty (seventeen in one small clover field of two acres),
and probably found a good man}' more. All these birds
were lean and poor, and came in with a north-east wind.'

There is one in the Maidstone Museum, obtained near
Maidstone on July 24, 1894, by Mr. E. J. Balston. Mr.
Walter Prentis states : " On one occasion, when all
the young clover seeds failed to grow, I happened to
leave my clover field for another year, being the only
one in the neighbourhood of Eainham. I shot twenty-
five Land-Eails on nine acres in September ; this was,
however, a most immense event."

Mr. F. A. Mackinnon writes: "I had not forgotten
my promise to search my game book at Acrise, in Kent,
for details as to shooting Land-Eails, but I was unable
to lay my hands upon it during my two days' visit this
week ; however, I have ascertained it was in 1880 when
we shot 211. Our best day that season was thirty-five,

MOOR-HEN 363

and the birds were shot in two pieces of clover ; while
our late head-keeper used often to say that as many
more escaped. Other good bags of Land-Kails that
season, all in the month of September, were, twenty-six,
twenty-one, and twenty, while thirty-seven were shot in
August. We grow a lot of clover in my part of East
Kent, and it used to be a practice of mine in those days
to search for these birds in the clover, not for the sake
of the sport, for there is none, but for the pleasure of
seeing the young dogs work. There cannot possibly be
better training for a young dog than to put him on the
line of a Land-Eail, for if he is to flush it, he must keep
his nose to the ground. I may add that 1880 must have
been an exceptionally prolific year for these birds, as in
no other year that I can remember has the total amounted
to 100. My experience has been that a wet summer is
the most favourable one for Land-Rails, but the reason of
this may be, of course, that in those seasons the clover,
into which the bird goes when driven from the corn,
grows more luxuriantly, and therefore gives better cover."

Genus GALLINULA, Brisson.

MOOE-HEN.

Gallinula cJdorojyus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 258

(176G).

Water-Hen.

This bird being a permanent resident throughout the
year, may be seen at all times on every large pond,
lake, stream and sewer in Kent, where they breed freely
all over the county.

364 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The nests are so variously placed that it is difficult
sometimes to detect them ; some are found on the over-
hanging branches of bushes close to the water on which
an accumulation of rubbish is fixed, others among the
mass of dead sedges, rushes and iris, and on the banks
above the water.

During the winter they are generally found in pairs.
In the summer they remain with their young until the
latter are able to fly.

They are very numerous in all the districts of East
Kent, particularly so in the marshes.

Mr. T. Hepburn says : " Moor-Hens' nests are very
numerous in the dykes and pools of water on the marsh-
land near Dungeness. In no cases were the eggs in any
of the nests that I found covered with leaves."

Genus FULICA, Brisson.

COOT.

Fulica atra, Linnaeus. /S'.iV., i., p. 257 (1766).

The Coot is far less abundant than the Moor-Hen,
although it is thoroughly distributed over Kent, especially
in the larger lakes, marshes and estuaries, the numbers
being increased from the north during the winter.

The Lower Medway appears to be a favourite place
during severe winters for these birds, where a great
many are usually to be found. Several specimens
obtained in that locality by Mr. E. J. Balston are
now in the Maidstone Museum. It is not exclusively
a river bird, but is found far inland, where it breeds
on many of the large inland lakes. For instance, it

CRANE • 365

was obtained by W. Berry, Esq., at Staplehurst, in
Kent, and at Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron.
There is a male and female, nest and eight eggs, in
the Maidstone Museum, obtained at Hollingbourne, in
Kent, by Mr. J. Coveney, and a male from Leeds,
February 22, 1887, obtained by Mr. M. W. Martin.

Mr. T. Hepburn writes, on May 13, 1900 : " Found two
nests in the reeds surrounding a pool of water on the
marsh near Dungeness ; two eggs in one and eight in
the other. In both instances the eggs were quite fresh."

Specimens were procured in the Orlestone district in
January, 1907.

Family GRUID^.

Genus GRUS, Bechstein.

CEANE.

Grus griis (Liniic^us). S.N., I, p. 234 (1766).

There is sufficient evidence from the subjoined par-
ticulars, culled from the last edition of Yarrell's British
Birds, to confirm the existence of the Crane in this
county, viz. : " Though at the present time only an
occasional and rare visitor to the British Islands, the
Crane was formerly much more frequent. In a letter
addressed to Boniface, Bishop of Mayence, who died
in 755, the Saxon King Ethelbert requested him to
send over two Falcons suitable for flying at the Crane
in Kent, i.e., Gyrfalcons."

The only other record is that of the Eev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett, who, writing in 1844, states that it " has been
seen in Eomney Marsh." This statement is made without,
data.

366 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family OTIDID^.

Genus OTIS, Liimajus.

GEEAT BUSTAED.

Otis tarda, Limiffius. 8.N., i., p. 2G4 (1766).

It seems that the Great Bustard was well known in
Kent from a very early period, although the records of
individuals were never kept, from the fact that in those
early times, all those which fell victims to the fowler
were for the table, and not for a collection.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.

An old specimen in the Canterbury Museum is supposed
to have been shot at Whitstable, but is without data.

A female in the possession of the Eev. C. W. Shepherd,
Trotterscliffe Eectory, was discovered at an old furniture
shop at Eochester some years ago, and on the back of
the case was a label with " Killed at Hailing, Kent, 1797."

In the Zoologist, 1850, Dr. F. Plomley, of Maidstone,
writing on January 16, says : I have been fortunate
enough to obtain that almost extinct bird in England,
the Great Bustard, which was shot at Lydd, in Eomney
Marsh, on January 4, 1850. The man who shot it
informs me that he had in his garden a wounded Wild
Goose, and that the Bustard (which he supposed to be
a Goose also) had been seen several times, by himself
and others, steadily flying over his garden, and that
on the morning of January 4, as he was standing at
his back door, he saw the bird at a distance flying direct
towards him ; he immediately stepped into bis house,
got his gun, and killed the bird as it was passing
over his wounded Goose. I believe this to be the only
instance of it being killed in Kent ; but from the

LITTLE BUSTARD 367

information I obtained during the many years of my
residence in Eomney Marsh, I think the Great Bustard
was not uncommon formerly in that locahty. My
specimen is a female and in beautiful plumage. It
measures, from the crown of the head to the tip of the
tail, '2 feet C:^ inches ; across the breast, with the wings
closed, lOi inches ; from the extremity of one wing to
the other, when expanded, 5^ feet. The crop contained
a quantity of vegetable matter, principally sea-kale."
This specimen is now in the Dover Museum.

In 1859 a young male was killed near Eomney, in
Kent, by Mr. Whittenden. This bird is now in the
Maidstone Museum ; it was presented by Mr. G.
Simmons.

Mr. H. A. Dombrain, of Ashford, in writing to the
Zoologist, 1880, says : " I have to report three Great
Bustards recently obtained in Kent, viz. : The first
of these was shot in Romney Marsh towards the end
of December last (1879), the sex of which I have
not been able to ascertain. The second, an immature
female bird, weighing 8h lbs., was taken early in
January, 1880, at Great Chart, near Ashford. The
third, a full-grown male, weighing 16 lbs., was shot
near Wye, about the latter end of January, 1880.
This bird had been observed by the occupier of the
land it was on, and he was anxious that it should be
left unmolested, but a trespasser, much to his annoy-
ance, went in pursuit and shot it."

LITTLE BUSTAED.

Otis tetrax, Linnaeus. S.N., l, p. 264 (1766).

Few instances are on record of the occurrence of the
Little Bustard in Kent.

368 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The first mentioned is that one was killed at Chatham,
in Kent, in January, 1834.

Two specimens were obtained by Dr. F. Plomley in
Eomney Marsh, according to the Eev. J. Pemberton
Bartlett, in his Ornitliology of Kent, 1844, so that these
birds were obtained before that date. One is now in the
Dover Museum. The Eev. C. H. Fielding, in his Hand-
hook of Higham, 1882, adds the Little Bustard to that
locality, and says : " Communicated by a friend who
claimed to have shot one a few years ago."

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, says :
" But few specimens of this rare bird are recorded from
our district ; one, now in the Eev. B. Austen's collection,
was killed some years ago, in St. Nicholas Marshes."

Family (EDICNEMID^.

Genus (EDICNEMUS, Temmiiick.

STONE-CUELEW.

(Edicnemiis ceclicnemus (Linnaeus) ; S.N., i., p. 255

(1766).

Norfolk Plover ; Thick-knee. Night-Hawk.

The Stone-Curlew is now an almost unknown bird in
Kent, the persecution which it has undergone, the destruc-
tion and robbery of its eggs, have driven it away from
this county.

Boys adds it to the Birds of Sandivich, 1792. The
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it
"breeds on the shingle in Eomney Marsh." Mr. G.
Bensted obtained it at Ulcombe, in Kent, and the
specimen is now in his collection. Mr. E. T. Filmer

STONE-CURLEW 369

says it used to nest on Dungeness beach. A specimen
in the Maidstone Museum, a male, was obtained at Ayles-
ford, April 24, 1888, by Mr. E. J. Balston.

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, writes :
" A specimen of the Stone-Curlew was shot at Ash ;
when last met with it was found on that extraordinary
accumulation of stones known as the "Lydd Beach."
This is not only the home of many rare birds, but is a
perfect wilderness, while a fauna and flora is found no-
where else to be met with in the south-eastern corner
of England. The beach, which has been accumulating
round Dungeness for many centuries, is upwards of three
miles in width at its broadest part, a stony desert relieved
here and there by large ponds, and a sort of oasis sur-
rounded by swamp and tall bull-rushes, the resort of
numerous species of wild-fowl and sea birds. The beach
still preserves the ridges marking the lines of the former
recession of the sea, and crowned in the most ancient
ridges with a stunted vegetation of brambles and briar
bushes, while lichens and mosses have consolidated the
pebbles. Nearer the shore the loose beach, yielding to
the steps of the explorer, makes the walking exceedingly
laborious, and few save the coastguard men cross it ;
and they make use of a sort of snowshoe, known by the
local name of " baxters," on which they skate along the
beach. This isolated and unfrequented spot is now,
however, invaded by the iron roads, the railways, and the
last retreat of the wild bird is thus threatened."

Captain Boyd Alexander writes (1896) : "On May 22
a pair of Thick-knee Plovers appeared on the " Lydd
Beach." After carefully watching them for some days
I was rewarded by finding their two eggs. They were
deposited amongst some flowering foxgloves — altogether
24

370 THE BIRDS OF KENT

a pretty site — but all the same unhappily selected, since
the locality was continually being subjected to a " drop-
ping " artillery fire. I had hopes of being able to see the
young, but after four days of sitting the birds deserted
the nest. The extraordinary sense of smell possessed by
the Thick-knee renders a near approach to the nest
without disturbing the birds difficult."

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds on the
beach at Dungeness, in 1900, writes : " The local name
of the Stone-Curlew is ' Night-Hawk.' Several pairs of
these birds still breed on the beach, but they are by no
means common, and all the coastguards' and fishermen's
sons know that the two eggs have a marketable value.
May 14, 1900 : I saw one of these birds fly up from the
beach, and on looking along the ridge from about which
it flew, I found its two eggs lying on the shingle. The
apology for a nest in which they lay was simply a hollow
scratched out of the shingle, measuring about 7 inches in
diameter and f inch deep. The two eggs were laid fully
2 inches apart, end to end. I was told by a fisherman
that they are never laid close together. Surrounding the
hollow were several pieces of broom, which had the
appearance of having been put there by the bird. One
egg was rather larger than the other, and the same
fisherman as I have mentioned above said that they
always call the larger egg a cock's egg, meaning that
a male bird would be hatched out of it. The same day
another pair of these eggs were offered to me for sale,
and I was mformed of a further pair having been found
two days previously. This shows that there are several
pairs breeding on the beach, and also that they must
find it a difficult inatter to bring their business to a
satisfactory conclusion."

BLACK- WINGED PRATINCOLE 371

FamHy GLAREOLID^.
Genus GLAREOLA, Brisson.
COLLARED PRATINCOLE.

Glareola pratincola (Linnaeus). S.N.^ i., p. 345
(1766).

On the authority of the Rev. C. H. Fielding, who says :
" There is a stuffed specimen of the Pratincole in Lord
Clifton's collection, which was the property of Mr. Sivey,
a bird-stuffer in Gravesend, who declared it to have been
killed in the county."

The second record is that given by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst
{Zoologist, 1903, p. 420), who states that on " May 30,
1903, a male Collared Pratincole {Glareola pratincola) was
shot by Mr. Southerden at Jury Gap, in Romney Marsh.
It was seen by me in the flesh, and exhibited at the
British Ornithologists' Club (vide Bulletin of the B.O.C.,
xcix.). This is probably the first occurrence of this species
in Kent." This latter specimen is now in the possession
of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham Park,
Sussex.

BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE.

Glareola mela?ioptera, Nordm. Soc. Imp. Mosc,
1842, t. 2.

For the first notice of the occurrence of this species in
Kent zoologists are indebted to Dr. N. F. Ticehurst,
who states that on "June 1 (1903) a male Black-winged

372 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera) was shot by Mr. F.
Mills near Dungeness Point. This is the first occur-
rence of this species in the British Isles, and is recorded
by me in the Bulletin of the B.O.C., xcix.^ This speci-
men is now in the collection of Mr. Fleetwood Ash-
burnham, of Broomham Park, Sussex " {Zoologist, 1903,
p. 421).

Another example is recorded by Lieutenant Boyd
Alexander : " An adult male was shot on Komney Marsh
on June 17, by a man named Jones, and is now in the
collection of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham
Park, Hastings " {Bulletin of the B.O.C., vol. xiv., p. 17,
1904.)

Family CHARADRIID^.

Genus CURSORIUS, Latham.

CEEAM-COLOUEED COUESEE.

Cursorius gallicus (Gmelin). S.N., i., p. 692,

(1788).

The records in the last edition of Yarrell's British
Birds, 1882-84, of the Cream-coloured Courser in Kent,
are as follows : " The earliest occurrence of the Cream-
coloured Courser in England appears to be that of
the specimen shot in 1785 by William Hammond, Esq.,
of St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, in East Kent, who
presented the specimen to Dr. Latham, who gives the
following account in his Synopsis of Birds, Supplement

1 Vol. xiii., p. 78, 1903.

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER 378

i., p. 254, pi. cxvi. (1787) : ^ ' He first met with it running
upon some light land, and so little fearful was it, that after
he had sent for a gun, one was brought to him which,
having been charged some time, did not readily go off,
and, in consequence, he missed his aim. The report
frightened the bird away, but after making a turn or
two it again settled within 100 yards of him, when he
was prepared with a second shot, which despatched it.
It was observed to run with incredible swiftness, and at
intervals to pick up something from the ground, and was
so bold as to render it difficult to make it rise from the
ground in order to make a more secure aim on the wing.
The note was not like that of any kind of Plover, nor,
indeed, to be compared with that of any known bird.

" This example, which the plate shows to be an im-
mature bird, passed into the Leverian Museum, and
having subsequently been purchased by Donovan for
eighty-three guineas, it found its way to the British
Museum.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, includes the
Cream-coloured Courser among the birds of that locality,
and undoubtedly refers to the bird obtained at Wing-
ham by W. Hammond, Esq. In a footnote in the
last edition of Yarrell's British Birds (vol. iii., p. 241) it
is stated : "With reference to that county (Kent), it
may be mentioned that Mr. J. E. Harting has furnished
the Editor with the following note : ' October 20, 1868 :
Saw to-day a specimen from the sale of the Margate

' The date is not mentioned, but from tlie tenor of Latham's letter,
dated December 12, 1785, acknowledging the gift (communicated to
Mr. J. Gould by Mr. W. O. Hammond, the grandson of the donor), it
would appear that the bird was killed a short time previously.— H.
Saunders.

374 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Museum, said to have been obtained at Westbrook,
near Margate, in Kent, November, 1849.' "

Mr. H. J. Harding, writing to the Zoologist, 1866, p.
524, says : Deal, October 10, 1866 : "A specimen of this
very rare bird was shot near Sandwich by a man who
knew nothing about its rarity, and allowed it to spoil ;
when it got into my hands it was nearly rotten."

Genus CHARADRIUS, Linna?us.

GOLDEN PLOVEE.

Charadrius yluvialis, Linnaeus. *S'.iV., i., p. 254
(1766).

The Golden Plover is only a winter visitor to Kent,
coming in October or November, according to the severity
of the season. Some remain on the higher heaths and
commons or marshes during the winter, leaving about
March or April for the north. Most of them go further
south, therefore few are obtained in the county.

Boys adds it to the Birds of Sandivich, 179'2, and the
Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states that
the Golden Plover is "common." Mr. F. D. Power, in
his notes on the birds of Kainham in 1868, says : "I
met with a small flock in a neighbouring marsh on
October 7. This is an early appearance for them in this
district."

There are two males, obtained at Linton on March 11
and 14, 1888, by Mr. H. Kennard, now in the Maidstone
Museum.

It has been found in the Orlestone district. East Kent.
Being an upland bird, it is more often found in the large
open pastures on the hills.

GREY PLOVER 375

Genus SQUATAROLA, Leach.

GEEY PLOVEE.

Squatarola helvetica (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 250

(1766).

Grey Sandpiper, Boys, 1792.

This species is another autumn and winter visitor,
more abundant than the former, and is confined to the
sea-coast and estuaries of Kent, associating as it does
with most of our waders, so very different in its habits
to those of the Golden Plover. During the winter it
may be seen in larger or smaller numbers on nearly all
the extensive mud -fiats and beaches along the coast and
rivers in the county, feeding in and enjoying the company
of Ping Plovers, Dunlin, Godwits, Sandpipers, Whim-
brels. Curlew and Gulls. It arrives on the coast about
October and November, and remains in greater or smaller
numbers until March or April, and occasionally later.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states
that it was "common in Eomney Marsh."

Mr. W. H. Power says : " I have only once observed
these birds at Eainham. On October 8, 1865, a flock of
about fifteen or twenty settled on the mud in the creek ;
a friend who was with me succeeded in stalking them
and shot two. They had nearly completed their autumnal
moult."

Mr. F. D. Power, writing in 1868, says: "I first
observed the Grey Plover on September 18, 1868, three
together. They are never very numerous on the Eain-
ham marshes." It finds its way along the mud-flats high
up the Medway and the Thames.

376 THE BIRDS OF KENT

In Captain Boyd Alexander's notes from Komney Marsh,
1896, he states that " several Grey Plover, with black
breasts, v^ere also obtained on May 10, and individuals
of this species continued to arrive on and off up to
June 13, when I saw two of them in company with a
Knot on the Midrips. (These are a series of shallow
ponds on the * Lydd Beach.') By the next day, how-
ever, all three had disappeared. On May 22 a flock of
six passed over my head. They were making in a
northerly direction."

Genus ^GIALITIS, Boie.

KENTISH PLOYEE.

^gialitis cantiana (Latham). Supp. ii., Gen.
Synopsis, p. Ixvi. (1801).

Dr. Latham was the first to describe and name this
pretty Plover {Charadrius cantiana), from examples
received from Dr. Boys, who had procured them at Sand-
wich, in Kent, in 1787 and 1791. Boys included this
same species in his list of Kentish birds obtained at
Sandwich, 1792, under the name of Alexandrine Plover.
The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says
it is " common in Komney Marsh, where it breeds."
Specimens of this bird in all stages, from adult to young
and eggs, are to be found in nearly all our museums and
private collections, and to enumerate the whole would
form an excellent catalogue.

In the Zoologist, 1880, the Rev. H. A. Dombrain,
writing on the Habits of the Kentish Plover, says :
" About the middle of April the Kentish Plover arrives
in this country, and as its principal breeding places

^^

.:2>7

E U

KENTISH PLOVER 877

are along the south-east and south coasts of Kent, it at
once repairs to these spots. Nidification, or rather,
propagation, begins soon after, depending a good deal
on the season. The weather in May, 1878, having
being warm, the young were hatched by the end of that
month ; last season being as much against them as the
previous one was in their favour, I found eggs only half
incubated by the beginning of June. The eggs, which
are three in number — not four, as is usual with other
species of the genus — are generally laid on the bare beach.
Occasionally the bird will deposit them on a heap of
seaweed which has been thrown up by a very high tide.
The most usual place is on small pebbles through which
a little grass grows. Where the eggs are so deposited the
bird lays its first egg on the stones without any attempt at
a nest, but twists a few pieces of the surrounding grass
amongst the pebbles, so that by the time the three are
deposited there is a scanty apology for a nest. If put off
the eggs the bird will retire to a short distance, and
after a plaintive whistle, run a few yards, then fly a little,
and drop and run again. As soon, however, as the young
are hatched, its manner is quite different ; it will then
fly very close around, giving at each stroke of the wings
a sharp whistle, then drop suddenly, as if shot, crouch
very close, expand its wing and tail and drag itself along,
then suddenly take wing agani and go through the same
motions, till the intruder is at a safe distance. The call-
note is a soft whistle quickly repeated four or five times.
The young, which run as soon as they are hatched, keep
close to the parent bird till well able to shift for them-
selves. The food of this species consists of insects and
small worms, which it picks up at the water's edge and
on the beach, when its form and manner much resemble

378 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the Sanderling, the head heing drawn in, the body nearly
horizontal, and the thighs concealed among the feathers
of the under plumage. There is a species of spider
which has hitherto bafded my attempts at capture, on
account of the rapidity with which it travels among the
stones, and which is found in great abundance on the
beach, and as the bird is often seen running very nimbly
over the stones and occasionally darting its head down,
it may fairly be presumed that this insect constitutes a
good deal of its food. If the eggs are approached, but
not too nearly, the bird may be seen to run among the
grass, and every now and then raise itself on its legs and
stretch' its neck to see and not be seen. It possesses
great powers of ventriloquism. I have stood still and
tried for some minutes to discover one which was in an
entirely different place to what I had supposed from its
note. Their favourite place for exercising this is on
a moderate-sized stone, where they will stand and
whistle for many minutes at a time. I need not describe
either the bird or its eggs, as they have so often been
treated of."

In Mr. T. Hepburn's notes on the birds of Dunge-
ness, 1902, he remarks : " The Kentish Plover, notwith-
standing all vicissitudes, seems to hold its own, and I
think I am safe in saying that there were as many birds
breeding on the beach in 1902 as in 1900. My fisher-
man friend, whose acquaintance I made on the occasion
of my former visits, gives me some interesting informa-
tion as to the numbers and distribution of this bird on
the beach. During a morning's walk with him we saw
two pairs of these birds, and he told me that he knew
at that time of three other pairs in different parts
of the beach. He also said that he had been recently

KENTISH PLOVER 379

watching twenty or more birds of this species feeding in
small mobs on Eomney Sands, which he considered to
be last year's birds and non-breeders.

" The previous autumn (1901), he told me he had
counted forty birds in one flock, which were no doubt
getting together preparatory to leaving this country.

" My companion had on the previous day (May 15,
1902) found a nest belonging to one of the pairs of birds
we had just seen. On walking towards it we saw one of
the old birds rise about thirty yards from us, and it wa?
almost immediately joined by its mate, and both birds
flew away quickly out of sight over a ridge. After look-
ing at the nest we concealed ourselves in a hollow, from
which we could watch the spot where the nest was. In
about ten minutes a single bird came back and settled on
the beach not much more than 10 feet from the nest.
After a succession of short runs, several of which were
made in reverse directions, it stood for a few moments
quite still (actually not more than 12 inches from its
eggs), and then, with a short, quick run, settled on them.
It was such a dull day that it was most difficult to dis-
tinguish the bird as it ran over the pebbles, and when
it settled on its eggs it disappeared from my sight
altogether. We then again walked towards the nest,
but I failed to detect the bird move from its eggs, and
only caught sight of it when it took wing about 10 feet
away from its nest. The nest contained three eggs, which
I noticed were not all with the pointed ends towards
the centre, and was situated on the crest of the ridge of
pebbles. The nest hollow was scratched out close to a
mossy patch of stones, and it was thickly lined with
short, broken pieces of rotten twigs and sticks. I think
this lining of the nest with vegetable matter is unusual.

380 THE BIRDS OF KENT

The hollow measured 3 inches in diameter by f inch
deep.

" On May 19 I was rather surprised to disturb three
Kentish Plovers feeding along the edge of a swamp three
miles inland. There was no doubt about them, as I had
a good view of them through the glasses, and could see
the broken pectoral band. On May '20 I was watching
a pair for some little time on the beach near Littlestone.
As it was a bright, sunny day I found them compara-
tively easy to follow with the glasses. Occasionally they
came so close to me that I was able to distinguish all
the details of their plumage. They have a whistling
call-note, which is not unlike that of a Einged Plover
abruptly cut short in the middle."

KINGED PLOYEE.

^gialitis liiaticula (Linn^us). 8.N., i., p. 253
(1766).

Eing Dotterel ; Sea Lark ; Stone Plover ;
Stone-runner.

This is the most abundant species of Plover along the
whole of the coast, estuaries and marshes in the county,
both winter and summer ; at the same time the numbers
are largely added to during the winter by the birds that
are driven down from the north.

The principal breeding-place in Kent is the extensive
stony beach from Lydd to Dungeness Point. Boys, in
his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, calls this bird the " Sea
Lark."

Mr. J. Gould obtained the adult and young of this bird
at Dungeness Point, June 12, 1864.

RINGED PLOVER. 381

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham,
1865, says the Einged Plover was " first seen on its
move southward on July 19. I noticed an instance of
the great voracity of crabs. Having shot a Einged
Plover, which fell in the water, I went as soon as I had
reloaded to pick it up ; not more than two minutes could
have elapsed, but when I arrived at the spot where it
fell I could only see the tip of one wing some distance
below the surface of the water. Upon seizing this and
pulling it out, I landed at the same time three crabs ;
they had already made a considerable hole in the breast
of the bird."

The Einged Plover, writes Captain Boyd Alexander in
1896, " breeds on the ' Lydd Beach' in fair numbers, and
seems to be the least affected of its genus by the artillery
practice. These noisy little birds course over the beach
all day long, uttering their whistling cries. Even the
Sky-Larks of the locality have caught their plaintive
notes, and they produce them amongst their own with
startling exactitude."

The following observations on this bird at New
Eomney and Littlestone-on-Sea, were made by Mr.
E. F. M. Elms in 1902 : " Saw the first Einged Plovers
about half-way between Littlestone and Dymchurch on
May 18; watched them running about the shingle for
some time, and felt convinced there was a nest near at
hand, but was unable to locate it. They (for it was
a pair under observation) seemed full of anxiety and
uneasiness, and incessantly kept up their tremulous
piping. After accomplishing each little run forward over
the pebbles they would pause, and seem to cast a sidelong
glance at one another.

" On May 20 I spent a considerable time watching

382 THE BIRDS OF KENT

a pair of Ringed Plovers at exactly the same spot where
I saw them on the 18th ; they were probably the same
pair. Their incessant cry or whistle was a plaintive
pip-pip or wip-7vip, I could not determine which. This
I took to be the note of anxiety, and it was repeated
incessantly. Only two or three times during the half-
hour I watched them did the note change, and then it
was purlin or wurlin. At each utterance the black
crescent-like gorget heaved up and down, and my friend
thought the piping note was produced without any
opening of the mandibles, but I could not ascertain this
myself. So quickly did their little feet move over the
pebbles that every now and then a faint clatter was
audible as a stone vv^as overturned. From this habit
of theirs they gain the local cognomen of ' Stone-runners.'
Only two or three times did either bird pick anything up
with its beak ; they were evidently not intent on feeding.
Their attitude ail along was that of anxiety. Every now
and then one would stop and perch itself on the top of
one of the larger stones, and proceed to scratch its beak
or head with its foot, and as often as not almost toppling
over in its endeavours to preen itself and maintain its
balance on one foot at the same time. Now one bird
begins to move in a series of short, sharp runs from
one end of a pebbly ridge to the other — say, about 20
yards — and gradually it comes nearer, and it strikes me
that it is zigzagging, or rather, perhaps, lessening the
distance between itself and me by a series of ever-
decreasing radii, with the nest as the centre. Such
proves, more or less, to be the case, for, on rising and
looking carefully over these thousands and thousands of
pebbles, I almost tread on the motionless squatting" form
of a Ring-Plover chick. It seems a weakling, and likely

DOTTEREL 383

to die, bat doubtless it has only been hatched a few
hours. I doubt whether the hollow in which it lay was
the true nest ; and where were the other three ? The old
birds, though exceedingly clamourous with their pipings,
did not in any way feign injury or attempt to draw us
away from their helpless young one, in the manner that
so many species in this order are in the habit of doing.
The eggs of the Ringed Plover are most difficult to find,
and one might look over acres of this shingly waste with-
out finding a nest ; but, curiously enough, though one
hollow on the beach would seem as good as any other,
the birds appear to have their own particular favourite
spots, and if one is ' in the know ' it is far easier to find
them. The fishermen's lads know exactly in which part
of the beach to look for nests, and are quite adepts at it.
The pebbles among which the eggs repose exactly match
the buffish-brown ground-colouring of the eggs, and,
furthermore, the pebbles in many cases bear black or
very dark spottings and markings, almost exactly like
those on the egg-shells ; in fact, several times I stooped
to pick up a pebble that was so much like an egg that
I was temporarily deceived."

Genus EUDROMIAS, C. L. Brehm.
DOTTEEEL.

Eudromias tnorinellus (Linnseus). S.N., i., p. 254

(1766).
Land Dotterel.

The Dotterel is only a spring and autumn visitor to
Kent, and far from plentiful at any time. It generally
keeps to the higher and more open land along the coast.

The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states

384 THE BIRDS OF KENT

that it is " common in Eomney Marsh in spring and
autumn."

In the Zoologist, 1871, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says :
" On September 7, 1871, at Jury Gap, Dungeness, I fell in
with five Dotterel at the edge of a brackish pond, which,
as is usual with this species, allowed me to come quite
near. They are too fat to walk about much, and are
very conspicuous a long way off, looking very black when
they settle on shingle. I afterwards saw two smaller
'trips.' My attendant knew directly what they were,
and they are not considered rare at Dungeness. The
specimen which I obtained was a young one, very
different from the bird in its winter plumage, or as we
get it in spring. I have never seen but three like it."

Mr. W. Prentis says, in his Birds of Bainhani, 1891,
that "a young bird was obtained on the Isle of Sheppy,
September 18, 1864, and it occurred on the Isle of
Elmly, May 3, 1870, and again on May 19, 1876."

Writing in 1896, Captain Boyd Alexander, in his
ornithological notes from liomney Marsh, says : " A pair
of Dotterel appeared here on May 29, a rather late date
for this species. They remained in a field of young peas
close to the shore for several days."

In 1900 Mr. T. Hepburn writes : May 10 to 14 : " Saw
several pairs of these birds on this visit to the beach at
Dungeness, but saw none in June or July."

Genus YANELLUS, Brisson.
LAPWING.

Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 248 (1766).

Peewit ; Green Plover.
The Lapwing is very abundant during the breeding
season in all the large marshy fields in Kent, especially

LAPWING 385

in Komney Marsh, which is well covered in most of the
low moist fields with the common Rush (Jimcus coin-
munis), and about Orlestone, &c.

The last seen of the Lapwings was on November 21.
They were then massing in hundreds in Eomney Marsh,
Some of the great flocks were at a great height, circling
round and round until almost out of sight, while other
flocks were within gunshot.

The earliest date noted of the return of the Lapwing
was on March G, in small flocks only, but there are
always some in winter. From time immemorial, with
all its persecution and robbery of its eggs, the Lap-
wing still holds its own. Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of
Great Britain, states that "Dr. F. Plomley informed Mr.
Yarrell that two hundred dozen eggs were sent from
Eomney Marsh to Dover alone in 1839," and this has
been going on ever since. These birds used to breed on
Grange Farm at Boxley in 1857.

Mr. W. H. Power in his Birds Observed at Bain-
ham, 1865, says : " A few pairs annually remain on the
marshes to breed, but I fancy their eggs are generally
taken by the shepherds, as I have only once seen a
young bird in the neighbourhood."

In 1900 Mr. T. Hepburn says, in his notes on the
birds on the beach at Dungeness : " May 10 to 14 :
There were great numbers of these birds on the beach
adjoining marshland. Many of them breed right out
on the shingle ; in fact, they lay their eggs anywhere,
either on the grass-land or on the shingle. There is
a considerable traffic in their eggs during the early
months of the spring. In all of the nests that I found
there were clutches of only three eggs, and as they were
also hard set, this was the full clutch laid in these par-
25

386 THE BIRDS OF KENT

ticular cases. When the nest is made on the shingle
there is generally some attempt at lining it with grass,
although in one case the eggs were laid right on the
stones. July 16 to 21 : At this date there was not a
single Lapwing to be seen on the beach proper. There
were, however, large numbers of them, old and young
birds, on the marsh and meadow land, but they seemed to
have quite deserted the shingle."

On June 4, 1906, while searching a large mass of
rushes in a field in Romney Marsh for various plants,
some young Lapwings got up, and, beautifully concealed
among these rushes, what appeared at first sight to be
some cow droppings, or the sole of an old shoe, turned
out to be a young Lapwing just able to fly. It was so
closely pressed down at the roots of the rushes that it
had been passed at first as nothing particular, the
colour and markings resembling the oljjects referred to. —
E. Bartlett.

Genus STREPSILAS, Illiger.

TUENSTONE.

Strepsilas interpres (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 248

(1766).

During the autumn, winter, and spring the Turnstone
visits all the large sand-beaches and mud-flats on the
coast and estuaries of Kent, associating with many other
waders. The localities in which it has been procured
and the data are very numerous ; scarcely a list of
Kentish birds is without mention of the Turnstone.

Some of these birds make their appearance very early
in August and September and remain up to May and
June.

OYSTER-CATCHER 387

Mr. W. H. Power, in 1865, says : " Last year (1864)
my brother killed one on August 26 at Eainham, the
first I ever saw in this district. I saw one or two in
September, 1865, but they are rare."

There is an immature female in the Maidstone
Museum, obtained at Gillingham on September 6, 1894,
by Mr. H. Payne.

Mr. W. Prentis records "a specimen procured in
August, 1892, in summer plumage."

Genus H^MATOPUS, LinncTus.
OYSTER-CATCHEK.

HcBmatopus ostralerjus (Linnaeus). ^^.N.^ i., p. 257

(1766).

Sea-Pie ; Olive.

The Oyster-catcher is occasionally to be met with on
the large sandy flats on the coast of Kent, but not in
large numbers, as formerly.

It bred many years ago in large numbers on the
" Lydd Beach," but, like many other birds that have
been driven away, few, if any, stay now.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandivich, 1792, adds this bird
under the name of Sea-Pie, which is called the Olive
of Sandwich.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
states that the Oyster-catcher " breeds on the shingle
at Eomney Marsh."

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bai7iham,
says : " One made its appearance on September 20, 1865 ;
my brother, however, gave it so warm a reception that
it quickly went off again. It is a decided rarity."

388 THE BIRDS OF KENT

According to Capt. Boyd Alexander, in his notes from
Eomney Marsb, 1896 : " A solitary pair of these birds
may be found breeding annually on the beach not far
from Dungeness ; but it is doubtful whether any young
are ever reared."

There is a young bird in the British Museum obtained
at New Pvomney, September 20, from Mr. H. Seebohm's
collection.

Family SCOLOPACID^.

Genus RECURYIROSTRA, Linnajus.

AYOCET.

Becurvirostra avocetta, Linn?eus. >S'.A^., i., p. 256

(1766).

The Cobbler's Awl.

In olden times, when Eomney Marsh was a wilderness,
and before it was drained, laid down in meadow and
pasture land, or even cultivated, and few inhabitants
existed there, the Avocet had its home and breeding
haunts, but at the present day it is one of the rarest
visitors to the county.

Dr. Latham, in 1785, states that Boys " twice met
with them at Sandwich so early as the month of
October." In 1787 he again writes : " Boys says the
Avocet appears on the coast of Kent about the middle
of April, and departs for the most part at the beginning
of September." Boys includes it in his Birds of Sand-^
wick, 1792. The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844,
says it is " not uncommon in Eomney Marsh."

In 1849 Mr. J. B. Ellman records that "a specimen

J.Smit deLetttk.

AVOCET

i DamelBScrni, L^'

RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA, Linn.

AVOCET 389

of this bird was shot about four miles from Eye, by a
fisherman, a week or two since (end of March, 1849).
These birds are now very rare in this part, though
formerly they used to breed here. — Eye, April 17, 1849."

Mr. H. Benson, writing April 29, 1849, says: "A pair
of Avocets were shot during the month of March, in the
marshes between Eamsgate and Sandwich. The man
who shot them told me that they had been seen in
nearly the same place for some weeks before. They
are very fine specimens ; and I do not doubt that, had
they remained undisturbed, they would have bred in
the marshes."

Writing again on July 14, 1849, Mr. J. B. Ellman
states that "another fine specimen of this noiv scarce
bird occurred here last April. In the former occurrence
which I noticed there were five in a flock, but only one
was procured."

Mr. J. 0. Harper, writing December 4, 1850, records
that "a specimen of the Avocet was shot at Sandwich
on April 22, 1849, by a gentleman formerly of Lowestoft."

AVriting on January 26, 1857, the Eev. C. W. Shepherd,
of Trottescliffe, Kent, states that "an Avocet was shot
in the marshes, near Eochester, about five weeks ago ;
it is now in my possession."

In 1858 Mr. J. Gardner records the occurrence of the
Avocet in Kent : "I have just preserved a fine specimen
of this bird for Mr. Gateridge, of Faversham, Kent, shot
close to the town. A few years since it was to be found
in numbers in this neighbourhood."

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, writes that
" only upon one occasion, to my knowledge, has the
Avocet been met with at Eainham, which was on
September 23, 1887. One was seen flying along a creek

390 THE BIRDS OF KENT

and shot, a bird of the second year ; another was
observed soon afterwards."

In the Canterbury Museum there is a specimen,
obtained at the mouth of Sandwich Harbour, August,
1895, in Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond's collection.

In the Zoologist, 1895, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond,
of St. Alban's Court, Wingham, states that " during
the last week of August an Avocet was shot not far
from the North Foreland, and was brought to me the
following day. It was a bird of last year, in very
good condition. The shooter reported that there were
three in company, only one of which he secured."

On August 29, 1903, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst records that
an Avocet was shot between Eye and Lydd, in Kent.

Genus HIMANTOPUS, Brisson.
BLACK- WINGED STILT.

Himantoims liimantopus (Liniicieus). 8.N., i., p. 255

(1766).

The only record of the occurrence of this species in
Kent is that contained in Mr. J. E. Harting's Handbook
of British Biids, p. 421, 1901. A specimen which was
killed at Faversham, Kent, now in the Canterbury
Museum.

Genus PHALAROPUS, Brisson.
EED-NECKED PHALAEOPE.

Fhalaropus hyperhoreus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 249

(1766).

A rare winter visitor to Kent, and few records of its
occurrence are to be found.

PHALAROPE 391

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
says : " This bird is rare ; Dr. F. Plomley has obtained
only one specimen."

A young bird from the Isle of Grain, procured on Sep-
tember 26, which came from the Marquis of Tweedale's
collection, is in the British Museum.

Mr. G. E. Power says : " On the 28th, 1871, I shot a
Red-necked Phalarope, a female and bird of the year.
When shot it was balancing itself on a reed in one of
the ' fleets ' at Rainham. My attention was called to
it by its note, which was well known to me. The
stomach was full of coleoptera."

GREY PHALAROPE.

PJialaropus falicavius (Linn^us). S.N.^ i., p. 249

(1766).

The Grey Phalarope is a rare autumn and winter
visitor to Kent, it keeps generally to the shore line, the
large sandy and mud-flats of the coast.

Writing in 1844, the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
states that it is " common in Romney Marsh in autumn."

Morris, in his British Birds, says : " In Kent one was
shot swimming on the Thames at Swanscombe in the
autumn of 1845, and reported by Mr. M. C. Cooke."

There is a Kentish specimen in the Maidstone Museum,
from Mr. G. Simmons.

Mr. Charles Gordon, writing from Dover, November,
1870, says: "Three Grey Phalaropes were taken in the
Hythe Canal by Mr. F. Young, October, 1870."

392 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus SCOLOPAX, Brisson.
WOODCOCK.

Scolopax rusticola, Linnasus. S.N., i., p. 243
(1766).

The well-known Woodcock is not only a migratory
bird, but also a resident in Kent. The numbers are
greatly increased during the autumn and winter, and
many pairs remain and are found breeding in most of
the large open woods and pheasant preserves, especially
in East Kent.

In 1776 Pennant, in his British Zoology (vol. ii.),
states that " they leave England the latter end of
February or beginning of March, not but they have been
known to continue here accidentally. In Case AVood,
about two miles from Tunbridge, a few breed almost
annually, the young having been shot there the beginning
of August, and were as healthy and vigorous as they are
with us in the winter, but not so well tasted. A female
with eggs was shot in the neighbourhood in April."

Latham, in 1785, says : "A brace of them were shot
in Chillenden Wood by the gamekeeper to Horace Mann,
Esq., May 1, 1769, and another brace the day before ;
they were sitting on their young. A friend of mine met
with a female sitting on the eggs, and the male close
at hand ; she was so tame as to suffer him to stroke her
without rising ; this was in a wood near Farningham,
Kent ; and about three years since, in the same wood,
a brace of old birds, with five young ones in company,
full fledged, were found. Three of the young w^ere taken

WOODCOCK 393

and given to a lady in the Deighboui'hood ; one of them
soon died and is now in my possession."

Boys inchides the Woodcock in his Birds of Sandwich,
179'2. In 1844 the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states
that it is "common."

In 1849 Mr. J. W. Hulke, in his Dates of the Arrival
of Winter Visitors to Deal, gives October 13.

Morris records a nest that was found at Seacocks
Heath, near Hawkhurst, in Kent, and others near
Tunbridge and Goudhurst.

Sir E. Fihner's keeper said that one was shot at
Sutton, September 13, 1867. An innkeeper in Maid-
stone (Mr. R. Dunk) stated that he had once seen a
Woodcock boring, and that it used its bill sideways.

Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain (1873),
writes: "I have myself several times received young
birds from localities in the counties of Kent, &c."
There is a Woodcock and young obtained at St. Alban's
Court, Wingham, in 1890-91, by Mr. W. Oxenden
Hammond, in the Canterbury Museum. A male which
was killed on January 9, 1894, at Linton, in Kent, by
F. S. W. Cornwallis, Esq., is in the Maidstone Museum.

In the Orlestone districts the first Woodcock shot in
1902 was on October 13, and in 1903 the first shot
was on October 14.

In the Zoologist, 1903, Mr. R. J. Balston wrote
" that in the second week of last month (April) a
Woodcock's nest was found in a wood in the neighbour-
hood of Orlestone, Kent. It had four eggs, which had
to be taken, as the wood was being cut ; they were all
fresh and easily blown. Another nest was found with
five eggs, which have since been hatched, and the 3'oung
birds gone off. One of my keepers informed me that

394 THE BIRDS OF KENT

there was still another pair of Woodcocks about, and he
supposed they must have a nest. We shot thirty-five
Woodcocks last season (1902-3), and left several in the
hope that they would stay and breed. In the winter of
1903-4 eighty-nine were shot, and in 1904-5 sixty-eight
Woodcocks were shot in the above districts."

Mr. E. Bartlett, writing on April 17, 1906, says: "I
had the pleasure of seeing my first Woodcock's nest in a
wood near Ashford, and I was much surprised while being
taken by a keeper to the place in which it was situated,
and I may say that it was the last place I should have
gone to, or looked for one. It was a large, open wood,
sparsely covered with young oak and ash trees, all the
lower undergrow'th having been cut some time before,
so that only a few new shoots from the old stumps
remained. The nest of four dark brown, blotched eggs
were placed close to an old stump from which a few
leafless shoots and branches stood out, givmg no shelter
whatever at this season. The nest itself was merely
a depression among the oak leaves, and the eggs so like
the surrounding dry rubbish and leaves that an expert
eye would overlook them. Fortunately at the time of
my visit the hen bird was off the nest. The nest was
about 20 feet from a well-used footpath, and only pro-
tected from passers-by by a low fence, so exposed that
a quick eye might have spotted the bird had it been
moving about. When I saw the eggs on the 17th I
found they were hard set. It had been discovered
on the 12th ; on the 24th Mr. K. J. Balston found
them still mtact, but on the 25th the young were
hatched and gone. No doubt the eggs were laid about
April 5 or 6."

SNIPE 395

Genus GALLINAGO, Leach.
GEE AT SNIPE.

Gallinago major (Gmelin). ^S'.iV., i., p. 661 (1788).
Solitary Snipe.

Only an occasional autumn and winter visitor to Kent.
Few instances of its having been obtained are recorded
in the county.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844,
remarks that the Great Snipe is " rare " in Kent.
There is a Kentish specimen in the Maidstone Museum
presented by Mr. G. Simmons. Morris states that " Mr.
Chaffey, of Dodington, has seen it in that place in Sep-
tember, 1850." Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East
Kent, 1889, says : " The Great Snipe has been frequently
met with in our marshes, though it must still be reckoned
a rare bird ; it is, perhaps, of ttimes confounded with the
Common Snipe, but when flushed it does not utter the
scape cry so universally the case in the Common Snipe."

In the Zoologist, 1894, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond
records that a " Great Snipe {Gallinago major) was shot
on October 1 by Captain Plumbe, Koyal Marines, who
kindly sent it to me. It was killed in the neighbourhood
of Deal."

SNIPE.
Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 244

(1766).

The Snipe is plentiful in all the marshlands in Kent
during the autumn and winter, and on their movement
southward, according to the severity of the season.

396 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Many pairs remain to breed in the most suitable
places, especially in Eomney Marsh (which must have
been in days gone by a perfect paradise for the Snipe),
where the nests and young have been found for the last
lew years.

In 18J9 Mr. J. W. Hnlke, of Deal, in his observations
on the departures and arrivals of birds at Deal, states
that " these birds left in a body on the night of
March 16, though a few stragglers remained a few days
longer," and that " they arrived on October 21."

Mr. W. H. Power says, in his Birds Observed at
Bainham : " A very early visitant in the autumn. This
season (1865) the first occurred on July 27, and my
brother once saw one as early as the 20th of the same
month. These early birds are, however, only stragglers,
the species not becoming at all common till the end of
September or beginning of October." No doubt the
above-mentioned birds had bred in those marshes. In
1868 Mr. F. D. Power writes : " Scarcely to be found
at all, on account of the dry state of the marsh ditches.
September and October are generally the best months
for them here, but I scarcely saw half a dozen during
the whole time, and I did not meet with a single Jack
Snipe in the Bainham Marshes."

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, writing to the Zoologist, 1897,
gives the following account of the breeding of the Snipe
in Bomney Marsh. He says: "Towards the end of
April, some three or four years ago, I flushed a Snipe in
Komney Marsh ; the question immediately occurred to
me. Does the Snipe breed here ? There are many very
suitable places, though none of large extent like there
are in the fens. Being well acquainted with the bird
during the nesting season in the fen country, I at once

SNIPE 397

began to look for the nest, but could not find it. Every
3'ear since I have put up three or four in different parts
of the marsh in the month of April ; but they always
seemed to be only feeding, as the places were generahy
very wet and no nest w^as to be found. On April 25
(1897) last, however, w^hile hunting a small piece of
rough sedge and rushes with my brother, I saw a Snipe
get up right at his feet, and, as usual when there is a
nest, fly away slowly and close to the ground. The nest
was easily found, situated at the top of a tussock, and
containing four typical eggs. We subsequently put up
several more Snipe, but they were obviously only feed-
ing, and we w^ere unable to find a second nest. So far
as I can make out this is the first recorded instance of
the breeding of this species in Kent."

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds at Dunge-
ness, 1900, states that on May 13 he " disturbed a single
bird of this species by the side of a ditch. My com-
panion told me, however, that he had never heard of a
nest being found in the district."

The melanistic type of this species, called Sabine's
Snipe {Gallinago sahinl, Vigors, Trans. Linn. Soc, 1825,
xiv., p. 557), has been procured in Kent. The Eev. J.
Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, records " a good specimen, a
female, which was shot on the banks of the Medway near
Rochester, October 26, 1824." Mr. G. Dowker, in his
Birds of East Kent, 1889, states that a Sabine's Snipe
was obtained in East Kent some years ago and is in the
Eev. W. B. Delmar's collection.

398 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus LIMNOCRYPTES, Kaup.

JACK SNIPE.

Limnocryptes galluiula (Linmeus). S.N., i., p. 244

(1766).

The Jack Snipe is only an autumn and winter visitor
to Kent, and is generally to be found during that time in
all the marshy lands of the county, but it is far less
abundant than the Snipe. It arrives in Kent about the
middle of October, and leaves in March and April. Mr.
W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham, 1865,
says the " first occurred this season on October 13,
about which time several made their appearance." One
was seen in the Eomney Marsh, December 24, 1905, and
often seen in the swampy fields in the Orlestone district.

Genus LIMICOLA, Koch.

BEOAD-BILLED SANDPIPEE.

Limicola platyrliijuclia (Temmiuck)- Man. d'Oni.,
p. 398 (1815).

The first record of this species in Kent is that given by
Captain Boyd Alexander {Zoologist, 1896, p. 411) : An
""immature female was shot at Littlestone out of a
flock of Dunhn. This, I believe, is the first instance on
record of this species having been obtained in Kent."

Mr. L. A. Curtis Edwards records in the Zoologist,
1901, that "an immature female of the 'Broad-billed
Sandpiper' was procured on August 31 (1901) last, near
Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent. This is the second Kentish
■example of this species that I have examined in the flesh."

DUNLIN 390

Genus TRINGA, LimicTus.

PECTOEAL SANDPIPER.

Tringa maciilata (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet. cVHisf.
Nat., xxxiv., p. 465 (1819).

In the Zoologist, 1898, p. 480, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst
writes : " I had the pleasure of exhibiting, at the last
meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, the first
Kentish specimen of the Pectoral Sandpiper {Tringa
macula fa). The bird was shot, from a flock of Dunlin,
on August 2 last, along the seashore between Lydd and
Eye Harbour. It is an adult male, and its dimensions
agree almost exactly with those of Mr. Gurney's Norfolk
specimens, given in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, vol. ii.,
p. 370. The bird is the property of Mr. Whiteman, of
Rye, to whom I am indebted for allowing me to examine
and exhibit it."

DUNLIN.

Tringa alpina, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 249 (1766).
Purre, Boys, 1792 ; Ox Bird.

During the autumn and winter this is one of the most
abundant species of Sandpiper on the coast of Kent. It
is to be found on all the large sandy beaches and great
mud-flats in the estuaries, and high up the rivers, especi-
ally the Thames and Medway. There is scarcely a
month in the year that the Dunlin is absent from the
shores of Kent, and it may be procured in nearly every
stage of plumage.

In his Birds Observed at Rainham, 1865, Mr. W. H.

400 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Power writes that "large 'flings' of these birds were
observed in September. They seldom come near the
smaller creeks, apparently preferring as feeding grounds
the extensive mud-flats towards Sheerness."

Captain Boyd Alexander, in bis Ornithological Notes
from Bommy, March, 1896, says : On " June 3 I saw a
number of Dunlins with black breasts ; a somewhat late
date. So far as my experience goes, none of the adults
remain here during the entire summer. When feeding,
the Dunlins seems convinced of the justice of the rule,
' Share and share alike.' Extended order is formed, or
when in flocks the rear portion alternately come to the
front, and in this way each bird partakes equally of what
the tide lays bare."

In his notes on the Birds of Dungeness in 1900, Mr.
T. Hepburn writes that on May 10 to 14 " small flocks
of this bird are numerous in suitable places on the
beach. July 16 — 21: I did not notice any Dunlin on this
occasion."

LITTLE STINT.

Triiiga minuta, Leisler. Naclitrdge zu BecJist.
NatuTcj. Deutschl, pp. 74-81 (1812).

This is only an autumn and winter visitor, and not
plentiful at any time, but being such a diminutive bird it
is easily overlooked ; however, it is found on the mud-flata
in the estuaries and large sands on the coast of Kent.

Mr. J. Gould states that " a flock of thirty was seen in
Eomney Marsh in 1839."

It is included in the Birds Observed at Bainham, by Mr.
W. H. Power, who says: " Towards the end of July, 1865,
I observed one of these birds about a small pool of water ;

temminck's stint 401

it was decidedly wild, and for several days baffled all my
attempts to shoot it."

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, states that
" a pair was obtained on September 17, 1881 ; they were
shot flying along a ditch on an island marsh." There are
specimens in the Canterbury Museum, obtained at Sand-
wich in August, 1887 and 1888, by Mr. W. Oxendon
Hammond. Dr. K. B. Sharpe obtained the Little Stint
in Ptomney Marsh on September 5.

TEMMINCK'S STINT.

Triiifja temmincJii, Leisler. Naclitrdge zu Bechst.
Nafurg. Deutschl, pp. 63-73 (181-2).

This Stint is rare in Kent, and appears on the coast
not only in the autumn, but from the following particulars
it has been taken in the summer.

The first record is that given by Mr. J. W. Hulke, of
Deal, who says : " On September 6, 1850, I shot a fine
specimen of Temminck's Stint, which was running
about with a Wagtail in a small plash near the beach."
Mr. W. H. Power obtained one in the Kainham Marshes ;
he writes : " On July 19 (1865) I noticed a bird of this
species running along the edge of a pool. Mistaking it
for a Sandpiper, I took some trouble to put it up, and
having shot it, was greatly surprised to see that I had
got a Temminck's Stint. It was a bird of the year, and
in plumage differed greatly from an adult of the same
species ; the markings on the back were almost exactly
similar to those of Schinz's Sandpiper in Yarrell.

"Again, on September 9, 1865, a pair of these Stints,
flying up the creek, passed within range of the sea-wall,
upon which my brother and I were sitting waiting, and
26

402 THE BIRDS OF KENT

we each killed one. They proved to be adult birds in
winter plumage. The above mentioned are the only
specimens of this Stint that I ever met w'ith near
Rainham.

" On May 22, 1866, my brother, Mr. G. E. Power,
found a Temminck's Stint frequenting the marshes in
the neighbourhood of Eainham. After some trouble he
succeeded in shooting it, an adult female in plumage
intermediate between that of summer and winter."

" Again, on the 25th of the same month, he succeeded
in obtaining another, also a female. This latter had nearly
attained its summer plumage. We have now obtained
five of these comparatively rare Stints during the last
ten months, all within a radius of about a quarter of
a mile. They are, however, the only birds of the genus
that have been heard of in the neighbourhood."

Mr. W. Prentis obtained this bird in the Isle of
Sheppey. He also picked up a Temminck's Stint in
winter plumage on November 1, 1869.

CUELEW SANDPIPER.

Tringa subarquata (A. J. Giildenstadt).
Novi Coinment. Acad. Petropol., xix., p. 471 (1774).

Pygmy Curle\Y, Boys, 1792.

It appears from wdmt Mr. H. Seebohm states regarding
this bird that '* it was first recorded as a British bird
by Latham, who obtained an example in 1786 which
was shot near Sandwich," but without a reference to
Latham's record. Boys, in his Birds of Sandwicli,
1792, under the name of Pygmy Curlew, records " a
single instance at Sandwich." Pennant, in 1812, writes :

CURLEW SANDPIPER 408

" Only one instance occurs of this rare bird having been
observed in England, which was shot near Sandwich ;
and we are informed by Dr. Latham' that it differed
from the preceding bird from Holland, in the edges of
all the feathers being of a pale ochreous colour instead
of white. It weighed almost '2 ounces, its length was
8^ inches, its extent 15i inches, its bill 1^ inches long."
In a footnote it is stated that " another has since been
met with at Greenwich in August."

Morris states that " another near Sandwich, May, 1833,
was shot by Mr. J. Gould."

Writing from Deal in September, 1850, Mr. J. W.
Hulke says : " On August 16 I had the good fortune to
shoot the Curlev/ Sandpiper in its summer plumage ; it
w^as associated with a large flock of Dunlins." There
is a specimen in the Canterbury Museum which was
obtained at Sandwich in 1850.

Mr. H. L. Saxby, writing September 24, 1862, from
Sheerness, states : " About a week ago I saw a fine
•example of this species in the possession of a boy who
had just before killed it with a stick, a little above
Rochester Bridge. It was extremely fat, and the
stomach was full of sand and small worms. I after-
wards observed eight more upon some marshy ground
near the same spot."

There is a male and female, obtained in Romney
Marsh in September, by Dr. E. B. Sharpe, in the British
Museum.

In 1871 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., writes: "on Sep-
tember 8, at Romney Bay, near Lydd, I killed three
Pigmy Curlews."

• Gen. Sijn., Suppl., iv., p. 291, 1787.

404 THE BIRDS OF KENT

PUKPLE SANDPIPEE.

Tringa striata, Linnasus. S.N., l, p. 248 (1766).

Although the Purple Sandpiper has been obtained on
nearly every part of the coast and in all the estuaries of
Kent, driven there by stress of weather from its native
haunts, and out of its element in such situations as this,
coast affords, preferring a wild and rocky coast with
masses of stones and rocks for hiding places, among
which it creeps, rat-like, from intruders and the weather,
seeking among them what the sea may cast up for food,
it only remains for the autumn and winter, leaving again
early in March.

KNOT.

Tringa caniitus, LinncTus. 8.N., i., p. 251 (1766)..
Ash-coloured Sandpiper.

The Knot is a regular autunm and winter visitor to
the coast and all the large mud-flats in the estuaries of
Kent. With regard to the numbers, it depends on the
severity of the season. On the large mud-flat of Pegwell
Bay and in the Medway great mobs of these birds may
be seen at low tide, associating with all the other wadera
and Gulls.

It appears from the data obtained, that the Knot ia
scarcely ever absent from the Kentish coast ; there are
always a few stragglers left during the summer, and in
the full red plumage. These are no doubt non-breedera
or barren birds.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, calls this bird;
the "Ash-coloured Sandpiper."

KUFF 40;"

Genus MACHETES, Cuvier.
EUFF.

Machetes pugnax (Limic'eus). /S'.JV., i., p. 247

Ruff and Reeve ; Greenwich Sandpiper.

Under the name of Greenwich Sandpiper, Latham, in
his Gen. Syn., SuppL, i., p. t249 (1787), says: "The above
was shot at Greenwich, on August 5, 1785, by Dr. Leith,
who did me the favour to add it to my collection. I
esteem it a new species. He subsequently named it
Tringa gre)iovicensis."

Boys, in his Birds of Sandicich, 1792, placed this
species under the name of " Greenwich Sandpiper."
Evidently these refer to the male bird in winter plumage.

In 1844 the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett states that
the Ruff was " common in Romney Marsh in spring and
autumn."

In 1871 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says : " On Sep-
tember 8, at Romney Bay, near Lydd, I killed a young
Reeve. I also received one from Faversham, in Kent."

In the Maidstone Museum there is an immature female,
obtained at Gillingham, August 2, 1894, by Mr. H.
Payne.

The Ruff and Reeve have of late years become rare
birds in Kent.

406 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus CALIDRIS, Cuvier.
SANDERLING.

Calidrls arenaria (Linnaeus). H.N., i., p. 251 (1766).

Ox-Bird.

During the autumn and spring the SanderUng is
usually found associating with the rest of our waders
on all the large sands and mud-flats on the coast and
estuaries of Kent.

Mr. J. A. Clarke says that Mr. E. M. Presland shot
one at Gravesend in the spring of 1864.

Specimens m Mr. E. T. Booth's collection at Brighton,
in winter plumage, were obtained in March, 1866, be-
tween Bye Harbour and Dungeness Point, and others
in autumn plumage were obtained in September, 1869,
on the Kentish coast.

Captain Boyd Alexander, in his notes from Bomney
Marsh, 1896, writes: "On May 29 the first flock of
Sanderlings appeared. They were in full summer dress.
The female of this species seems more backward in
assuming the nuptial dress than the male. A female out
of this flock was obtained with plumage hardly differing
from that attained in autumn. The resemblance in the
markings of the crown, nape, and mantle, and especially
the latter, of the male Dunlin and Sanderling in summer
dress, is very remarkable. The last flock of Sanderlings
was seen here on June 2."

SANDPIPER 407

Genus TRINGOIDES, Bonaparte.

SANDPIPEE.

Tringoicles liijpoleucus (Linnaeus). ^SiV., i., p. 250

(1766).

Summer Snipe.

This Sandpiper is certainly not plentiful in Kent at any
time. A solitary bird or at most a pair may be seen
on the banks of the rivers and coast, but as a rule on
fresh-water streams.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
liev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says it is " common
in spring and autumn." In Mr. AV. H. Power's Birds
Observed at Rainliam, 1865, he says: "It is a curious
fact that very few common Sandpipers, and few, if
any. Green Sandpipers, visit Rainham on their spring
migration northwards, although both species become
tolerably abundant in the autumn. I noticed the first
this season (1865) on July 7, and the last on October 13,
the latter being in company with a Green Sandpiper.
This is later than I ever remember to have seen one,
although last year (1864) I observed one as late as the
12th of the same month."

There is a pair in the British Museum, obtained in
July and September, in Eomney Marsh, by Dr. E. B.
Sharpe. Mr. E. J. Balston generally met with it on the
Medway in summer.

In Captain Boyd Alexander's notes from Eomney
Marsh, in 1896, he writes: "On May 30 two pairs of
Common Sandpipers came to one of the dykes, but dis-
appeared a few days later. I have searched in vain for

408 THE BIRDS OF KENT

the nest of this species in many parts of Kent, and
have carefully watched the birds, bat they never remained
for any length of time in one locality. The breeding
haunts of the Common Sandpiper must be looked for
on higher altitudes than are to be found in Kent and
Sussex."

There is no record at present of the occurrence of the
nesting of this Sandpiper in Kent.

SPOTTED SANDPIPEE.

Tringoides macularius (Linntens). H>.N., i., p. 249

(1766).

Mr. J. L. Bonhote, at a meeting of the British
Ornithologists' Club, exhibited on behalf of Dr. N. F.
Ticehurst, a pair of the Spotted Sandpiper {Tringoides
macularius), v^^hich had been shot on May 5, 1904, in a
ditch between Lydd and Brooklands, in Eomney Marsh.
The birds were examined in the flesh, when still perfectly
fresh, by Dr. Ticehurst, on May 7. This was the first
properly authenticated record of the species in the county
of Kent" (Bulletin of the B.O.C., vol. xiv., pp. 84-85.).

Genus HELODROMUS, Kaup.
GEEEN SANDPIPEE.

Helodromus ocJiropus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 250

(1766).

The Green Sandpiper appears to be rather an erratic
visitor to the county, but the greatest numbers arrive
during the autumn migration. From observations made

GREEN SANDPIPER 409

there is scarcely a month between March and December
but what a Green Sandpiper may be seen in the large
open woods or marshes.

In 1865 Mr. AV. H. Power writes that the Green
Sandpiper "appeared on its migration southwards on
July 17, at Eainham. They soon became tolerably
common, but are very war}^ generally stationing them-
selves at a bend of a stream or sheet of water, and
whisking round a corner when flushed. They often
remind one forcibly of a Snipe — the cry uttered almost
immediately on taking wing, their subsequent rising high
in the air and flying to a great distance, sometimes
returning again near to the spot from which they were
flushed ; in fact, I fancy that the Green Sandpiper is
sometimes mistaken for a Snipe by rustics, and may
perhaps account for the tales one hears of Snipe being
seen at Midsummer. I saw a Green Sandpiper as late
as October 13."

In 1868 INIr. F. D. Power, in his notes on the birds
at Eainham, says the Green Sandpiper is " very scarce
this year — a striking contrast to their great abundance
here in 1867. This scarcity is to be attributed to the
drying up of the ditches during the summer. I sav/
only tw^o specimens throughout September."

There are specimens in the Canterbury Museum from
the Isle of Thanet, obtained in April and May, 1887, and
August, 1888, by Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond; he also
shot it on September 7, 1897. Dr. E. B. Sharpe obtained
it in Eomney Marsh in September. A male in the
Maidstone Museum, obtained at Linton, April 28, 1888,
by Mr. H. Kennard ; and a male obtained at Leeds,
Kent, December 14, 1883, by Mr. M. W. Martin.

410 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus TOTANUS, Beclistein.
WOOD-SANDPIPER.

Totanus glarcola (G-melin). H.N., i., p. 077 (1788j.

Very few records of the occurrence of the "Wood-
Sandpiper in Kent have been made. It appears to he
a rare hird in the count5\

Mr. J. Green, of Woolwich, writing on June 1, 1850,
says: "A specimen of this Sandpiper, just shot by a
gentleman at Woolwich, has been brought to me for
preservation."

In the Zoologist, 1867, p. 991, Mr. F. D. Power, writ-
ing on October 2, 1867, gives the following account of
an extraordinary flock of Wood-Sandpipers at Eainham :
"On July 26 last (1867) my brother, Mr. G. E. Power,
fell in with a large party of Wood-Sandpipers on some
marshes near liainham, Kent, a sudden change of wind
on the previous night, viz., froiii south-west to north and
north-east, with a deluging rain, having apparently
driven these birds out of their usual line of migration.
At first he put up but three, one of which he shot, but
at the report others rose on all sides, and joining in one
large flock, flew round and round at some height, con-
tinually whistling ; their numbers he estimated at from
eighty to one hundred. They soon pitched again, and,
dividing into small parties, flew round the ditches like
Dunlins. He followed them up, and without any difficulty
succeeded in obtaining four more. The last was seen on
September 6. I may mention that we had only twice
previously met with this species at Eainham, viz., one
seen in July, 1865, and a second which I obtained on

EP]DSHANK 411

July 15 last (1866), on the same marsli where this large
flock appeared."

A specimen in the Canterbury Musemu was obtained
at Thanet, July, 1886, by Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond.

EEDSHANK.

Totanus calidris (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 252
(1766).

Tooke.

The Redshank is more or less a resident in Kent, but
the numbers diminish during the more severe winters,
returning in the spring. These birds baunt nearly all
the large swampy, rush-covered pastures in the extensive
marsbes on the coast of Kent, breeding and associating
with the Lapwing.

Mr. W. H. Power, writing in 1865, aptly describes the
habits of the Redshank in the breeding season : "A
number of these birds breed annually on a large piece
of marsh called " Rainham Saltings " ; this consists of
about one hundred acres of irreclaimable marsh-land,
intersected in every direction by creeks and dykes ; it
is traversed by means of a " stray- way," a path that
doubles and turns about in every direction to avoid the
large creeks, giving to a person following it the appear-
ance of a man demented — at one minute leading straight
out from land, the next apparently walking back again ;
now turning to the right hand, now to the left, occasion-
ally disappearing altogether from view in a dyke. During
spring tides the greater part of the marsh is submerged,
the higher hillocks only remaining uncovered.

412 THE BIRDS OF KENT

" The Kedshanks pair about the middle or end of April,
and at this time are constantly on the move, flying
round and round in circles, incessantly uttering their
sharp note with great animation, occasionally rising and
falling in the air with a tremulous motion of the wings,
and at the same time making a trilling noise. It appears
to me that these birds never rest ; I have heard them at
all hours of the day, and on a still night their cry sounds
particularly wild and pleasing. Besides their note uttered
when on the wing, they are in the night in the habit of
joining in a chorus (if I may so term it), one bird begin-
ning and others chiming in one after another, much in
the same manner as a flock of ducks assist the old drake
in his clamorous wheezing.

" It is by no means an easy matter to find a Eedshank's
nest, as, in the first place, as soon as they perceive an
intruder on their domain, they immediately commence
flying round, uttering loud cries, in the manner before
described, and if a dog is present, dashmg at it much in
the same way as the Curlew. They continue this circling
almost incessantly until the intruder retires, but seldom
settling, and then only for a short time. In the next
place, supposing a bird is marked down, even then one
part of the marsh is so much like another, and a circuit
being generally necessary to avoid creeks, &c., a person
gets perfectly bewildered in a very short time. I was
once so fortunate as to capture a young lied shank that
was apparently not many hours old. Hearing a low
chirp some distance ahead, I went forward, but almost
immediately heard it again behind my back. I continued
walking, first in one direction, then in another, but
always with the same result ; I had no sooner got close,
as I thought, to the spot, than I heard the bird in quite

SPOTTED REDSHANK 413

a different direction. At length, having come to a stand-
still in my uncertainty, I happened to cast my eyes on
the gromid at my feet, and immediately discovered my
little ventriloquist perched on the top of the long stalk
of a marsh plant. I thought at first that my hearing the
chirp in so many directions was caused by a number
of these young birds, but after capturing the above
mentioned the note entirely ceased. About the end of
July Eedshanks begin to flock, and at the same time
become wild and difficult to approach. Their flight when
in full speed is amazingly swift, and a large flock of them
affords a very pretty sight dashing along a creek, first
wheeling in one direction, then in another, uttering their
cry incessantly all the while."

The nest is of very slight structure, formed of grass
and bits of rash : it is placed in a tuft of grass or rashes.
The eggs are foar in number.

SPOTTED EEDSHANK.

Totanus fiiscus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 243 (1760).

This species is an occasional spring and autumn
visitor to Kent, but it is far from being plentiful,
although many of them no doubt are mistaken for the
ordinary Redshanks when in winter plumage.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says it
is " to be met with occasionally in spring and autumn in
Eomney Marsh." Mr. J. Gould writes that the gunners
of the Lower Thames and Medway often meet solitary
individuals in the months of August and September.
There is an immature male in the British Museum ob-
tained at New Eomney, on September 22, by Colonel
Irby.

414 THE BIRDS OF KE^;T

111 1889 Mr. G. Dowker records the appearance of
the Spotted Redshanks, which he says was shot " by my
son, on September 9 (1889), by the Eiver Stour. It is
a fresh addition to my Hst of East Kent birds."

Mr. W. Prentis, writing in 1894, states that " on one
afternoon I met a pair in the front of a snowstorm in
mid-winter at Kainlaam."

Mr. J. B. Nichols states that "on May 29, 1905, a fine
pair of Dusky Redshanks {Totanus fuscus), in summer
plumage, were shot at Jury's Gap, Lydd, Kent."

GREEN SHANK.

Totanus canescens (Ginelin). 8.N., i., p. 6G8
(1788).

An occasional spring and autumn visitor an^ at no
time numerous. It visits the large outlying sands and
mud-flats on the coast and estuaries of Kent, associating
with the God wits, for which it is often mistaken.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states that
it is "not common. A good specimen was shot last year
(1843) at Milton, by the keeper to Matthew Bell, Esq.,
of Oswalds." Morris says one was obtained at Swans-
combe, in Kent, in 1848, by R. O. White, Esq.

Writing in 1868, Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes at
Rainham, says the " Greenshanks appear to have been
more abundant than usual on the marshes at the mouth
of the Medway. I have heard of several being killed
during September, and we received one in the flesh
which had been shot on the IGth of that month."

RED-BREASTED SNIPE 415

A female obtained at Sittingbourne in x\ugust, and a
female from Romney Marsh, obtained August 27, are in
the British Museum.

Genus MACRORHAMPHUS, Leach.

EED-BEEASTED SNIPE.

Macrorhamphiis gri^eus (Gmelin). >S'.aV., i., p. 058

(1788).

It is stated in Pennant (vol. ii., p. 53, 1B12) that " a
small flock of these rare birds appeared on the coast of
Devonshire in the spring of 1803, and were traced as far
as Sandwich in Kent."

There is a Kentish specimen of the Eed-breasted
Snipe in the Exeter Museum, the bequest of the Eev.
Bower Scott.

Genus LIMOSA, Brisson.

BAE-TAILED GODWIT.

Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 246
(17GG).

Common Godwit, Boys, 1792.

Early in autumn this bird makes its appearance on all
the large mud-flats of the estuaries in Kent. Mobs of
them may be seen on the most prominent points of sands
along the coast, associating with Curlews and Gulls and
the smaller Sandpipers. They remain on the coast dur-
ing mild weather up to December, and small numbers
visit these shores on their return in spring, and have
been obtained as late as the middle of May.

416 THE BIRDS OF KENT

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

Li])i()sa cEcjocepliala (Liniiteus). t^.N., i., p. 24G

(176(3).

Jadreka Snipe.

This bird is now very rarely met with on the coast of
Kent. They generally keep to the large open mud-flats
and sands, in company with the other waders. Most of
those which have been procured are autumn arrivals.

Boys adds this species to his Birds of Sandicich, 1792,
under the name of " Jadreka Snipe."

There are specimens in Dr. F. Plomley's collection
at Dover ; Mr. AV. Oxenden Hammond's collection at
Canterbury, and one from Sandgate in the British
Museum.

Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Bainham, says : "In
the month of January, 1891, several immature Black-
tailed Godwits were met with on the Medway saltings,
and on October 20, 1882, a pair of adult Black-tailed
Godwats were found on the Medway creek, one being
shot."

Genus NUMENIUS, Brisson.
WHIMBREL.

Numenius plicEopus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 243

(1766).
May Bird.

A spring and autumn visitor, being more numerous
during the spring immigration. In their passage they
associate with the Curlew^s, Godwits and other waders.

CURLEW 417

on the great mud-flats and sands round the coast and
rivers of Kent.

Mr. W. H. Power, writing in 1865, says : "I noticed
that Whimbrels became more numerous towards the
latter end of April and beginning of May in the Eainham
district. They did not stay long, however, soon leaving
us for their breeding grounds. They returned again in
the autumn rather before the Curlew, viz., about the
end of July, and they became very common towards
October, when the greater number left us. A few,
however, generally remain during the winter."

Captain Boyd Alexander met with it on the " Lydd
beach on September 9, 1896, for the first time." Mr.
T. Hepburn, on May 13, 1900, " picked up a recently
shot specimen in Romney Marsh near Dungeness." Mr.
R, J. Balston met with it on the lower Medway.

Specimens in the British Museum were obtained in
Romney Marsh in May, August and September, by Dr.
R. B. Sharpe.

CURLEW.

Numenius arquata (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 242
(1766).

Whaup.

This wild and clamorous bird returns to the large
sands and mud-flats on the coast and estuaries of Kent in
small parties in April and May, remain but a short time,
and then go north. On their southern migration they
may be found in great flocks massed on the large mud-
flats early in August and September, and if the season be
27

418 THE BIRDS OF KENT

severe the mobs soon become reduced; a few, however,
remain scattered along the coast in winter.

Mr. W. H. Power, in liis Birds Observed at Rainhani,
1865, states : " The Curlews returned to the marshes
this autmnn about the second week in August. The
young birds, on their arrival, are not nearly so wild
as they afterwards become when collected into flocks,
and are killed in numbers by the fishermen and "mud-
diggers." Their mode of proceeding is to take with
them a trained dog, as much like a fox as possible ; after
hiding in a dyke they send the dog out on the mud-
flats left bare by the receding tide ; as soon as the Cur-
lews see the animal they almost invariably attack it,
flying round and round, uttering loud cries and occasion-
ally making a pounce at it. The dog, w^ho understands
his business well, beats a retreat towards the spot where
his master is hidden. The Curlews follow up their success
with vigour, but to their confusion, for as soon as they
are well within range the man shoots one, and reloading,
does the same again. So engaged are they with the dog
that sometimes as many as three are killed before the
others take themselves off. Should the sportsman (if he
may be so called), however, show himself during the
process, the birds would quickly be off. This mode of
shooting them can only be practised when they are in
small parties of four or five ; when in large flocks they do
not take the slightest notice of the dog, or of the " Curlew
whistle," which is also used to attract them. What is
the cause of their attacking the dogs in this manner ? Is
it aversion, curiosity, or fascination ? The fishermen
account for it by supposing that foxes are common in the
places where they are bred, and that they therefore have
good cause for their apparent anger and aversion."

ARCTIC TERN 419

There are some fine specimens in the Maidstone
Museum, obtained in the Lower Med way by Mr. E. J.
Balston. He also observed it in the Orlestone district.

Captain Boyd Alexander, in 1896, writes : " On August
24, strong south-westerly wind. Three big flocks of
Curlew, each numbering on an average 200 birds, have
come to the Lydd Beach. They appeared from the
north-eastward."

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds on the beach
at Dungeness in 1900, writes : " May 10 to 14 : Saw single
bn-ds, and also small flocks of this species flying inland
from the sea-coast.

Family LARID^.

Genus STERNA, Brisson.

AECTIC TEEN.

Sterna Jiirundo, LinnaBus. S.N., i., p. 227 (1766).

There is no doubt that much confusion occurs respect-
ing this bird and the ordinary Tern on the coast of Kent.
This and the following species resemble one another to
such an extent that at a distance it is only an expert
observer vv^ho can detect the difference. Under these
circumstances the Arctic Tern may be more numerous
than is supposed.

These Terns frequent our shores during the summer,
arriving about April and May, and depart in August and
September, or later in October. It is at present uncer-
tain whether this species has really bred on the beaches
of Kent for many years past.

4*20 THE BIRDS OF KENT

On October 3, 1867, Mr. A. H. Sime writes: "I
had the good fortune to obtain a fine specimen of this
Tern, a young male in immature pUimage, in the Lower
Hope, near Gravesend. It was flying at the time in
company with four or five others of the common variety.
I had seen them flying about the yacht for more than
half an hour before they came within shot."

Mr. G. F. Mathew, writing from Sheerness, Sep-
tember 16, 1869, says : " The late gales have driven a
number of Terns into the Medway ; on Sunday last I
saw a flock of thirty or forty busily engaged fishing
within a very short distance of our sea-w'all. As far as
I could judge they were all of the same species, viz.,
Sterna arctica."

Mr. T, Hepburn, in his notes on the birds at Dunge-
ness, in 1902, says : "I suppose there is a possibility of
a few Arctic Terns {S. macriira) breeding on the beach.
I watched a pair of them for some time one afternoon
fishing in the outer bight of a kettle-net. They came so
close to me that I was plainly able to distinguish the
grey colouring of the breast and flanks."

TEEN.

Sterna fiuviatilis, Nauinann. Isis, 1819, p. 1848.
Sea- Swallow ; Kip.

During the summer this Tern, usually called the
Common Tern, is to be seen along the coast and all the
estuaries of Kent, skimming and hovering over the water
in search of food, dropping like a stone every now and
again to pick up a dainty morsel from the ripples.

TERN 421

One of the principal breeding places of this bird in the
county is tlie great shingle beach at Dungeness.

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bain-
ham, 1865, writes : " This species was first seen this
season about the latter end of July, from which time
until the end of September they might constantly be seen
beating the creeks in a most methodical manner." Mr.
F. D. Power, in 1868, says : " It is very abundant this
year in the Rainham marshes, and continued numerous
until the end of September. Small parties of about a
dozen seen early in October, and for the last time on the
10th. Immature birds predominated largely — I should
think quite fifty to one."

Captain Boyd Alexander, in his notes on the bu:ds at
Dungeness, 1896, writes : " The restricted breeding area
taken up by the Common Tern is distinctly prejudicial
to the safety of their eggs. The children of the fisher-
men and coastguard officers soon discover these spots,
and the eggs are robbed right and left for the purpose of
eating. Over these places sheep have invariably been
feeding, and where they have poked their noses, forming
small stone-padded hollows, the eggs are more often than
not laid. On May 21 a nest of the Common Tern was
found containing five eggs. They were of the reddish-
buff variety."

In Mr. F. Hepburn's notes on the birds of Dungeness,
1900, he says : " May 10 to 14. There were plenty of
these birds about the beach and sea-coast at this date,
but they had not yet begun to lay. June 3 to 4 : Now-
nesting in considerable numbers on various parts of
the beach. As a rule the birds were congregated into
colonies, but I found two separate nests in quite isolated
positions. In the colonies the nests were on an average

422 THE BIRDS OF KENT

15 to 20 yards apart. The variation in colour and
in size of the eggs, even in the same nest, was very
great. Their nests — merely a shallow scrape-out in the
shingle — were in most cases lightly lined with dry grass.
In several instances I found eggs indented and cracked,
due no doubt to the unevenness of the bottom of the nest,
causing undue weight on one portion of the egg when
the bird is sitting on the nest. At this date I found
eggs with the young birds beginning to form, and others
quite fresh. In 1902, the earliest date on which I heard
of the Common Tern's egg being found was May 16,
and I saw some myself on May 18."

EOSEATE TEEN.

Sterna dougalli, Montagu. OriiWi. Diet. Swpj^l.

(1813).

On the authority of the Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
who, writing in 1844, states that it "has been seen in
Komney Marsh." Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East
Kent, 1889, states that it is " said to have been met with
by Colonel Cox."

LITTLE TEEN.

Sterna minuta, Linngeus. S.N., L, 'p. 228
(1766).

" Skerrek."

This pretty Little Tern is a summer visitor to the
coast of Kent, and its principle breeding haunts are the
Lydd Beach and some sandy beaches about the Isle of

LITTLE TERN 423

Grain. Writing in 1844, the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
states that this species was " common in Romney
Marsh."

Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes on the birds of Eainham,
1868, says: " We had an immature specimen brought to
us ahve on September 11 ; it was discovered inside the
sea-wall, and was caught with dilhculty. Very common
here."

Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain, says :
" During a visit to Dungeness on June 12, 1864, I saw
many sitting on their two eggs ; none were then hatched,
but two young birds were sent to me from thence on
the 22nd."

In Captain Boyd Alexander's notes from Eomney
Marsh, 1896, he says " Of the two species of Terns
breeding here, the Common and Lesser, the latter is by
far the more numerous. But the numbers of both have
sadly diminished of late years. Both species keep
separate in their breeding haunts, the Lesser Tern pre-
ferring rather the close proximity of the sea." In 1900,
Mr. Hepburn makes the following observations on this
species on the beach at Dungeness : May 10 to 14 : " Com-
mon about the beach, but not yet started laying. June
3 to 4 : Found them nesting in small companies in a good
many places on the beach. They seem to choose places
where the shingle is small and comparatively fine, and
often do not even trouble to make the usual slight scratch-
out, laying their eggs in a chance depression, such as
footsteps. The nests in these colonies were generally
rather closer together than in the case of the Common
Tern, say about 8 to 10 yards apart. There was no
real attempt at lining any of the nests I saw, although
they occasionally had an odd blade of grass in them.

424 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Several of the eggs I found were showing signs of incu-
bation. There was not quite so much variation in the
colour and size as in the eggs of the Common Tern. The
complement of eggs in both species seems to be either
two or three." In a very lengthy and interesting account
of the breeding of the Lesser Tern, given by Mr. T.
Hepburn in his notes of the birds of North Kent, 1902-3,
the following particulars are given : " The colony of
Lesser Terns which I have had under observation now
for three successive seasons, it is pleasant to be able to
say so, seems to be increasing in numbers. The birds
make theii appearance in April, being then seen in small
parties fishing along the coast and creeks in the vicinity
of their nesting ground. The earliest date on which I
have a note of them is April 20, 1902 ; but I do not give
this as the date of their arrival, because my observations
have not been continuous enough to fix that date ;
although during a visit to the beach on April 14, 1903,
I saw no signs of them, and should therefore be inclined
to put the date of their arrival as somewhere between
April 14 and 20. They do not congregate on the beaches
where they nest until towards the middle of May. On
May 20, 1903, I found them in numbers on their own
particular stretch of beach, and I was rather surprised
to find two nests with one egg in each ; this is the earliest
date on which I have found their eggs. From the first
start of laying, I am of opinion that any day one would
be able to find fresh eggs, and eggs in all stages of in-
cubation. The only eggs I have taken from this colony
have been acquired simply with a view of testing the
times of laying. Thus an egg from a nest containing
three, taken on May 26, 1901, was so hard set that I
could hardly blow it. (This would put the first laying

GULL-BILLED TERN 425

for this nest earlier than May 20.) At the same date an
egg from another nest was perfectly fresh. On June 18,
1903, I found a single egg which I thought had heen laid
since a visit on the previous day, and upon blowing it
my surmise proved to be correct. On June 25, 1902, a
single egg laid in a nest proved to be quite freshly laid,
as did also an egg apparently laid by chance on the beach.
At the same time, June 18, 1903, I handled nestlings just
hatched out ; and on June 28, 1902, I caught nestlings
beginning to flutter over the beach which had the primary
quills quite long."

CASPIAN TEEN.

Sterna caspia, Pallas. Nov. Conim. Petrop., xiv.,
p. 582 (1769).

The only record of the occurrence of this rare visitor
to Kent is taken from Mr. J. H. Gurney's list of the
specimens known to have occurred in England : " One,
Lydd, Kent, prior to 1845. Keported by Mr. E. P.
Thompson, Notebook of a Naturalist, p. 265 " (Zoo-
logist, 1867, p. 457).

There is one in Dr. F. Plomley's collection which was
procured in the channel off the coast of Kent.

GULL-BILLED TERN.

Sterna anglica, Montagu. Ornitli. Diet. Suppl.

(1813).

The only instance of the occurrence of this species in
the county is one that Mr. W. Yarrell records in his
British Birds. It was killed in Kent in June, 1839.

426 THE BIRDS OF KENT

SANDWICH TERN.

Sterna cantiaca, Gmelin. S.N., i., p. 606 (1788).
Boys' Tern.

This beautiful Tern was first described by Dr. Latham
under the name of Sandwich Tern, in his General
Syno2)sis of Birds, vol. iii., part ii., p. 357, 1785. He
writes : " This species is pretty common on the coast
of Kent in the summer months, and breeds there ;
frequents that of Sandwich in vast flocks, and makes a
screaming noise. May be supposed to lay their eggs
among the rocks in the month of June, and hatch them
before the middle of July, as I have received the young
birds from that diligent naturalist, Mr. Boys, the end
of August, 1784. About the same time a young bird,
with nearly the same markings, was shot by Br. Leith,
of Greenwich, on the banks of the Thames near that
place." In his Supplement, i., p. 266, 1787, he says :
" Boys has informed ine that it is found to associate
with the Common Tern. The Sandwich Tern is gener-
ally to be seen in the neighbourhood of Bomney about
April 17, and departs about September 5." At p. 296,
loc. cit., he names it Sterna sandvicensis.

In 1788 Gmelin described it under the name of
Sterna cantiaca, which should be adopted for the
species, although Latham's Sterna sandvicensis has
priority. Again, even after Gmelin had named it,
Latham renamed it Sterna boysii, in his Index Ornith.,
vol. ii., p. 806, 1790.

Mr. B. T. Filmer says it is rare, but is to be seen
in the breeding season on the large piece of open water
near Bungeness Light.

c5
2

^5

Q

CO 01
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H
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ULACK TERN 427

In 1896 Captain Boyd Alexander, in his notes from
Eomney Marsh, writes : "On May 23 I was fortunate
enough to discover, with the aid of my field ^lasses, a
pair of Sandwich Terns breeding here. The birds, how-
ever, deserted after the first egg was laid. I am incHned
to think that the Common Tern must have driven them
away."

Dr. F. Plomley found it breedmg at Dungeness.

Genus HYDROCHELIDON, Boie.

BLACK TEEN.

Hyclrochelidon nigra (Linnaeus). H.N., i., p. 227

(1766).

In the early part of the last century the Black Tern was
very abundant in the marshy lands of Kent, and especially
in Komney Marsh, where it used to breed in colonies,
but at the present day a pair or so make their appearance
in summer, but do not remain to breed.

Montagu found it breeding in Eomney Marsh before
1802. Writing in 1844, the Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett
states that it was " common, breeding in Eomney
Marsh."

Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Eainham,
1865, writes : " On several occasions during the autumn
I fancied that I had seen a few of these Terns, though
at such a distance that it was impossible to identify
them. At length, on October 12, during a gale from the
northward, I observed one beating about some sheltered
pools of water inside the sea-wall, it proved to be a bird
of the year. This species is far from common about the
creeks." In 1868 Mr. F. D. Power says : " It is never

428 THE BIRDS OF KENT

numerous at Rainham. A few appear about the creeks
during September. Shot one, a bird of the year." Mr.
W. Prentis, of Rainliam, writes that " the Black Tern
visits us in the month of August. Always immature."

A female of this species in the Maidstone Museum was
obtained at Marden, in Kent, on September 11, 1884, by
Mr. H. Kennard. Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover, obtained it
in June, 1885, near that place.

In 1896 Captain Boyd Alexander says: "A pair of
Black Terns were seen on May 24, following the sea-
board in Romney Marsh."

Genus RISSA, Stephens.
KITTIWAKE.

Bissa tridactijla (Linn^us). S.N., i.,p. 2-24 (1766).

Nearly all the year round the Kittiwake may be seen
or obtained on the coast of Kent, in all stages of plumage.
In the spring, and again in autumn, they become more
plentiful during immigration and migration. It is at the
latter period that many pass inland, or ascend the rivers
and are found on the large mud-flats and pastures, occa-
sionally being driven inland by gales and severe weather.
There are no suitable rocky cliffs on the coast for a bird

L ; nd in Kent.

There is a good series in various stages of plumage
in the Maidstone Museum, from the Lower Medway,
obtained by Mr. R. J. Balston.

For the last few years these birds have come up the
Medway as far as Springfield, Maidstone. This year,
1907, the}^ arrived by the middle of August, which I
think is earlier than usual. — R. J. Balston.

HERRING GULL 429

Genus LARUS, Linnaeus.

GLAUCOUS GULL.

Lams glaucus, Fabricius. Faun. GrcEiil., p. 100

(1780).

This large and fine Gull is a rare and only a winter
visitor to the coast of Kent, and few examples are recorded.

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says that
" Dr. F. Plomley has obtained a specimen of this bird in
Eomney Marsh. Several of the Glaucous Gulls have been
seen this summer (1844) in the Marsh. Hitherto Dr. F.
Plomley has been unable to procure any of them."

Mr. D. H. Fry, writing on December 16, 1846, says :
" Whilst staying a few days at Ramsgate, I saw two
examples of young Glaucous Gulls, one of which I
succeeded in shooting. The occurrence of this descrip-
tion of Gull is by no means common in this part of the
country."

HEEEING GULL.

Larus argentatus, Gmelin. S.N., i., p. 600 (1788).

The Herring Gull is one of the most abundant species,
at all times of the year along the coast of Kent, and may
be seen in every stage of plumage. There is only one
suitable part of the coast on which the Herring Gull is
found to breed, which is well described by Colonel
H. W. Fielden, in 1887. He writes : " Cliff-birds at Dover.
During the first week of July the fine chalk cliffs between
Dover, the South Foreland, and St. Margaret's Bay
present a very animated appearance. Hundreds of Her-

430 THE BIRDS OF KENT

ring Gulls are nesting there, and the 3'oung ones may
be seen about their nests, attended by the parent birds.
For some reason or other — probably for the want of
suitable ledges — the Herring Gulls do not appear to nest
on the abrupt faces of the cHffs, but in spots where land-
slips have occurred, and where slopes more or less covered
with verdure, but of a very steep incline, have formed amid
the cliffs. In selecting such breeding places the Herring
Gulls have, as might be expected, selected the more
inaccessible slopes, and as far as I could judge, walking
below the cliffs, I did not notice any occupied nesting-
places that an ordinary rock-climber would attempt,
without the aid of a rope from above. Great mortality
occurs amongst the young Gulls from the nests being
placed on these steep inclines, for the young, tempted
from their nests, lose their foothold on the slippery grass,
and slide and fall on to the beach below, where they are
abandoned by the parent birds. In the first week in
July of this year (1887), my companion and I counted
over fifty dead young ones in the course of our walk
along the base of the cliffs, and we saw two young
Herring Gulls lose their foothold and come down, trying
to save themselves with expanded feet and their little
apologies of wings extended ; they reached the beach
in safety, where we secured them, took them home, and
they are now flourishing in my companion's garden.
There is, however, one exception to the general rule
of these gulls breeding on the cliff-slopes, and that is
a few pairs making their nests on the gravel beach at
the base of the cliffs, just above the line of ordinary high
water. The spots available are very few and restricted
in area, and as they can be reached at low tide, these
nests are invariably plundered of the eggs. My com-

YELLOW-LEGGED HERRING GULL 431

paniou informed me that daring the past seven years
he had on several occasions taken eggs from their nests
on the shore. He is inchned to think that the very great
increase in the numbers of the Herring Gnhs since the
Wild Birds Preservation Act came into force has led to
the crowding of the securer breeding stations, and that
the Gulls that nest on the beach are the younger ones
which have been unable to find nesting room in the safer
positions. It was satisfactory to learn, from my com-
panion's personal observation, that the number of Herring
Gulls had largely increased during the past ten years.
I should estimate roughly that not less than four hundred
pairs of Herring Gulls nest in the cliffs between Dover
and St. Margaret's Bay. To ornithologists who reside
in the neighbourhood of London, and who may not have
the opportunity of visiting the more distant great rock
nurseries of sea-fowl along our coasts, I recommend a
visit to these cliffs, but care must be taken to time it
with due consideration of the tides, for a mistake might
lead to an awkward predicament, as at high water the
sea rises to the cliffs, except in a few spots, where some
of the gulls, as I have already mentioned, make their
nests on the gravel" {Zoologist, 1887, p. 294).

YELLOW-LEGGED HEKEING GULL.

Lanes cacJiinna?is, Pallas. Zoogr. Busso-Asiat.,
ii., p. 318 (1818).

" The Hon. N. Charles Rothschild records that he
observed in Dover Harbour, on April 18, 1904, a bird
which he considered to have been an example of the
Yellow-Legged Herring Gull {Lams cachinnans). The

432 THE BIRDS OF KENT

bird in question was flying in company with several of
the connnon Herring Gulls {Lai'us argentatus), a.nd ipsLSsed
unusually close to the observers. The bird was noticed
to have orange-coloured legs, not only by the recorder*
but by his brother and the Hon. F. E. Henley" {Bulletin
of the B.O.C., vol. xiv., p. 91, 1904).

LESSEE GREY GULL.

Larus camis, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 224 (1766).

Winter Gull, Boys, 1792 ; Cobb or Sea Cobb.

This pretty Gull is a regular spring and autumn
visitor to Kent. They generally remain all the winter
along the coast. During the open weather they may
be seen in large numbers in the marshes, on the ploughed
land, and even following the plough in flocks ; they go
far inland in search of freshly turned-up fields.

On October 23, 1905, at the top of the hills overlooking
Eomney Marsh, on the road to Lympne, a pair or two
were flying overhead, and near the village a flock of over
twenty were following a plough close to the road, and
in the Marsh itself similar flocks were found acting in
the same manner. On other occasions, tw^os, threes
and fours were nearly always to be found passing over
close to the ground on the recently turned soil.

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 433

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.

Larus marinus, Linnaeus. /S'.A^., i., p. 225 (1766).
Cobb; Wagell.

This fine large species may be considered a resident
on the coast of Kent, being found at all times of the
j'-ear, in pairs or singly. It is very rarely found inland,
never leaving the sea-shore.

The following note appears in Yarrell's last edition of
British Birds, viz. : " Dr. Turner, who wrote on British
Ornithology more than three hundred years ago, calls
this Gull a " Cob," and by this name it is still known
on the flat shores of Kent and Essex, at the mouth of
the Thames, where this bird remains all the year.

Boys, in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792, calls this bird
the " Wagell." This name is applied to the full-grown
young bird in the mottled plumage.

On February 8, 190G, during the great snow- and
thunderstorm that passed over Kent on that day and
did so much damage, Mr. Tims, of Ham Street, on
returning along the Eoyal Military Canal in Romney
Marsh, and about half-way between Ruckinge and Ham
Street, came upon a pair of dead Great Black-backed
Gulls lying close together, which was a most unusual
instance of these birds being found so far inland. After
a careful examination there was no doubt that they had
been struck by lightning and killed close together. On
the pinion of each bird it appeared as though it had been
burnt, the blood-vessels had all been burst, and the
contents in a watery condition diffused over the whole
of the interior, but nowhere in clots.
28

434 THE BIRDS OF KENT

LESSEE BLACK-BACKED GULL.

Lams fnscus, Linnseus. S.N., i., p. 225 (1766).
Mew or Sea-Mew.

On the coast of Kent this bird is one of the most
numerous at all times of the year. The full-grown
young in their grey-brown mottled plumage are the
most imprudent of their race ; with those of the young
Herring-Gulls, they appear to have lost all fear,
approaching, as they do, close to the habitations of
man, seeking whatever may be thrown from the house,
especially from those cottages near the sea.

Writing in 1865, Mr. W. H. Power says : " I observed
adult birds of this species early in July. They are, next
to the Black-headed, the most common Gull about the
creeks of Eainham ; as many as fourteen have been seen
together in one flock ; they are, however, exceedingly
wild, and it is seldom that one can get within gunshot
of them. This, and every other species of Gull about
the size of the Black-headed Gull, is in this neighbour-
hood called a " Cob."

BLACK-HEADED GULL.

Larus ridibundus, Linnaeus. >S'.iV., i., p. 225 (1766).

Crock or Crocker.

From ages past the beautiful rosy-breasted Black-
headed Gulls have had a colony or two during the
summer months in Eomney Marsh. Although greatly
diminished of late years (by the plunder of their eggs).

BLACK-HEADED GULL 435

they still persist in holding that particular breeding
place. After the breeding season they become spread
over the land, especially on that part under the plough.

In Mr. W. H. Power's Birds Obseraecl at Rainham,
1865, he writes: "These Gulls left this year for their
breeding grounds about the end of February ; a few
had returned by July 1 ; these were mostly adult birds,
still retaining the brown head. By far the greater
number did not make their appearance until the end of
July and beginning of August ; at this time they collect
into flocks, which consist chiefly of birds of the year,
a few old ones only (and these without the brown head),
to be found among them. This species, which is by far
the most common about the creeks, continues in the
neighbourhood during the whole winter, occasionally
visiting the "sprat-fields" on the cultivated land, where,
in company with the Hooded Crow, it enjoys a most
savoury banquet. It is astonishing how correctly they
time themselves in their visits inland, generally leaving
the creeks as soon as the rising tide has covered the
mud-banks ; from this time till the turn of the tide
not a Gull is, as a rule, to be seen ; but no sooner
does the tide begin to ebb than they reappear, first in
ones and twos, then in detached parties, and immediately
commence beating over and settling on the mud-flats,
now covered by only an inch or two of water."

Mr. F. D. Power, writing from Kainham in 1868,
says : " September 29 : My brother killed two splendid
adult birds, both having, in addition to the roseate breast,
a most beautiful rosy-pink hue on the four outer quills
of each wing, most marked on the shafts. Specimens
with roseate breasts we have not infrequently met with
liere in winter, but until now had not come across any

436 THE BIRDS OP KENT

with such a colour on the wings. The general effect was
extremely beautiful,"

In 1896 Captain Boyd Alexander, in his notes from
Eomney Marsh, writes : " On June 4 I made an
expedition to the Hoppen " Petts," for the purpose of
inspecting the colony of Black-headed Gulls. The
" Petts," which lie about four miles south-east of Lydd,
consist of two large pieces of water of unknown depth.
They are, furthermore, fringed with treacherous reed-
beds which possess all the qualities of a dangerous bog.
They are also the home of many leeches. When within
a mile of these "Petts" I could discern a number of
Black-headed Gulls lining the banks, and looking like
so many lumps of white chalk. On a nearer approach
they all rose up, full of clamorous consternation — a
veritable sea rookery — and circled above the water.
They numbered about 200, and at least a quarter of
these wore the dress of immaturity. I discovered over
twenty nests, all containing eggs, with the exception
of two which had young. These nests were invariably
placed close to the edge of the reed-bed nearest the
water. On one small " reedy " promontory there were
no fewer than eight, situated hardly a yard apart. Of
late years this colony of Gulls has suffered much per-
secution, but the owner, Mr. Samson, of Lydd, exercises
now a strict surveillance over it, with the result, I am
glad to say, that the colony is rallying."

LITTLE GULL 437

LITTLE GULL.

Lants iiiinutiis, Pallas. Beise Buss. Beichs., iii.,
App., p. 702 (1776).

It appears from the records of the occurrences of the
Little Gull in Kent, that it may be more often met with
than is supposed. The bird, in its immature or winter
dress during autumn, may escape observation when
among Terns and the Black-headed Gull in winter
dress.

Morris, in his History of British Birds, states that
"one was obtained at Sheerness into 1840."

Writing on March 7, 1862, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond
says : " Two Little Gulls were obtained for me on the
Kentish coast last month (April) ; one was a bird of the
first year, the other a very fine adult ; they had far
advanced towards the summer state of plumage."

Mr. G. B. Ashmead writes, October 6, 1868: "From
amongst a lot of Gulls, &c., shot for me a little below
Gravesend, I have found a fine adult specimen of the
Little Gull in winter plumage. This comparatively
scarce species of Larus was observed in company with
the Common Tern."

Mr. W. Prentis records having obtained one in Rain-
ham Marsh on " February 1, 1870, and in March he
observed another with a black head. On February 14,
1874, an adult Little Gull was shot at the mouth of
Milton Creek. On September 17, 1884, a young imma-
ture Little Gull was shot on the Medway, in mottled
plumage."

In 1893, Mr. W. 0. Hammond writes : " On January
19 I received a Little Gull {Larus minutiis) from a

488 THE BIRDS OF KENT

fisherman who sends me anything he gets that he thinks
worth having. This species has occurred not infrequently
on this coast (Kent). It is probably worth recording the
circumstance of its having the beautiful roseate colour
of the under-parts, which I should hardly have expected
in mid- winter."

In 1898 Captain Boyd Alexander records that "on
March 3, near Horsemonden, a fine adult male Larus
minuhis was obtained. Horsemonden is about 12 miles,
as the Crow flies, from the Eiver Bother."

BONAPAETE'S GULL.

Lams Philadelphia (Ord). Guthrie's Georgr.,
2nd Amer. Ed., ii., p. 319 (1815).

Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says :
" This interesting addition to our Fauna, I have on the
authority of Lord Chfton, of Dumpton, Thanet, Kent,
who writes : ' There can be no reasonable doubt as to
Bonaparte's Gull. A notice of this bird appears in the
Field, April 4, 1888.' It is not mentioned in Harting's
Handbook, 1901."

Genus STERCORARIUS, Brisson.

GEEAT SKUA.

Sfercorarius catarrhactes (Linnaeus). S.N., i.,
p. 226 (1766).

The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, states
that Dr. F. Plomley says : " I seldom ride along the coast
without seeing one or two specimens. They are the
most difficult of all Gulls to kill."

POMATORHINE SKUA 439

Mr. R. J. Balston has seen the Great Skua off the coast
of Kent and in the estuary of the Thames.

In 1901 Mr. W. E. Butterfield, in writing to the
Zoologist, p. 521, states that " a female Great Skua was
shot on 'October 4 near the Post-office at Dungeness, by
Mr. G. Bates, and forwarded to me in the flesh." This
specimen is now in the Museum at Hastings.

POMATOEHINE SKUA.

Stercorarius j^omatorhinus (Temminck).
Man. (VOmlth., p. 514 (1815).

In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds it is stated
that " the first notice of this species as a British bird
appears to be in the sale catalogue of Mr. Bullock's col-
lection, April, 1819, where at p. 32, lot 62, a second
example of this same species, killed at Dover," is men-
tioned.

Although the Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844,
states that this species is "not uncommon in Eomney
Marsh," there are no records of its occurrence in that
locality. There is a Kentish specimen in the Maidstone
Museum, presented by Mr. G. Simmons, which may be
out of the Marsh. He had several birds from that locality.

In 1868 Mr. F. D. Power, in his notes from Eain-
ham, says: "Two were shot in this district during Sep-
tember, one in the immediate neighbourhood at the
beginning of the month, and the other at Stangate
Creek on the 28th. This last was a very nice specimen
of the Pomerine Skua, and, according to Yarrell, in the

440 THE BIRDS OF KENT

plumage of the second year. It was chasing Terns when
first seen, and proved tame, allowing a near approach in
a boat as it sat on the water. The other bird appears to
have been also of this species."

In 1869 Mr. J. Hunter, of Faversham, says : " A speci-
men of the Pomerine Skua in fine plumage was shot on
this coast on November 14, and is now in my collection.
The bird is an immature female and answers very closely
to Yarrell's description, excepting in the colour of the
bill, cere and legs, which latter, in my specimen, is a clear
chalk-blue, and the base of the bill and cere greenish-
white ; nearly the whole of the fore-toes and webs are
black, but the hind toe and claw are the same colour as
the legs."

Mr. W. Prentis records " a pair of Pomerine Skuas,
which were shot by a bargeman when in the act of
killing a Common Gull beyond Piochester Bridge on
February 20, 1882, one a fine adult with yellow collar
and a long turned-up tail, the other immature in the
brown plumage ; and another was shot flying over
Chatham Hill in windy weather, November 27, 1890,
either in the second or third year's plumage."

In 1898 Mr. G. Slaney presented to the Maidstone
Museum an immature bird. It was killed at Salt Pan,
near Sandwich, Kent, on October 18, 1898.

RICHARDSON'S SKUA 441

EICHAEDSON'S SKUA.

Stercorarins crepidatns (Grmelin). f^.N., i., p. G0"2

(1788).

Richardson's Skua is more often seen on the coast of
Kent than obtained. It is a winter visitor to the shores
of the county and ascends the River Thames, keeping
generally to the estuaries.

Morris states that " in the winter of 1800 one was
shot at Greenwich, another at Sandwich." From this
period, strange to say, until 1863, nothing appears to
have been noticed of this bird.

Mr. E. Young, of Sittingbourne, writing on July 1,
1863, says : " I had a beautiful specimen of this bird
brought me this morning." In 1867 Mr. A. H. Smee
says : " On October 3 I saw two specimens of the
Common Skua, the first just opposite Greenhithe, the
other by the Chapman Light. The latter when observed
was chasing a Common Gull, which it soon compelled to
disgorge its food."

A specimen in the Maidstone Museum was killed by
Mr. H. Payne, October 17, 1895, at Stoke, Kent. A
young or immature bird in the British Museum was
obtained at Gravesend in Septbmber.

Mr. W. Prentis mentions that " the mature bird with
a long tail is extremely scarce, one was shot out of the
bounds of my district, October, 1865, on the Swale
River."

Mr. R. J. Balston also observed it in the mouth of
the Medway.

442 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Family PROCELLARIID^,

Genus PROCELLARIA, Linnaeus.
STOEM-PETEEL.

Procellaria peJagica, Linnaeus. ^.N., i., p. 212

(17GG).

Storm Finch.

This curious hfctle bird is often beaten on to the coast
of Kent during heavy weather. Boys mentions an in-
stance at Margate in 1792.

The Kev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, says : " These
ill-omened birds are sometimes to be seen on the Kentish
coast in stormy weather. I once observed several
from the pier at Dover. The ' Mother Carey's Chickens,*
or ' Spencies,' as they are cahed by sailors, are interesting
birds, not only from the superstition which attaches to
them, of causing storms and shipwrecks, but also from
their swiftness of flight, and the apparent ease with
which they fly immense distances."

Mr. W. Prentis mentions that a shepherd boy picked
up a Stormy Petrel alive near Eainham.

EIDGWAY'S PETEEL.

ProcellariacryiJtoleucura (Eidgway). Proc. U. S,
Nat Mus., iv., p. 337 (188-2).

The particulars respecting this bird, which was found
in Kent, are taken from Captain Boyd Alexander's notes
in the Zoologist (1896, pp. 167-08) : " An example of
Oceanodrovia crijptolcucura, which proved, on dissection,

leach's petrel 443

to be a female, was picked up on the beach close to
Littlestone, a small village 6 miles noi'th of Dungeness,
on December 5 (1895) last, at a time when strong north-
westerly gales were prevalent. It was taken the next
day to Mr. Bristow, at St. Leonards, and there I saw it
in the flesh. It was in poor condition, and clearly, in
appearance, a storm-beaten victim. This specimen was
subsequently exhibited by Mr. Howard Saunders at a
meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, on April 15,
and the fact that it was found on the English Coast will
be of interest to ornithologists, not only because it adds
a fresh species to the British ProcellariidcB, but also on
account of the recent discovery by Mr. Ogilvie Grant of
the breeding of this species in the Canary seas, where it
had been previously confounded with Leach's Fork-tailed
Petrel." A second specimen was exhibited by Dr. N. F.
Ticehurst at a meeting of the British Ornithologists'
Club, held on November 21, 1906, "which had been
obtained near Hythe, in Kent, on November 8, 1906.
On dissection it proved to be a female. The bird was
shot while flitting along the shore in a tired manner
after the subsidence of the heavy south-west gale that
blew in the Channel from November 4 to 8."

LEACH'S PETREL.

Procellaria leucorrlioa, Vieillot. Noiiv. Diet., xxv.,
p. 422 (1817).

Fork-tailed Petrel.

In 1844 the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett mentions that
Dr. F. Plomley obtained a specimen of this rare bird.

444 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Captain H. W. Hadfield, writing from Tonbridge on
January 6, 1857, says : " I have lately seen in this town
a very fair specimen of this Petrel, which was, I am
informed, found dead some three or four years since at
Peckham in this neighbourhood."

In 1868 Mr. J. Hunter, of Faversham, in Kent, says :
" A specimen of the Fork-tailed Petrel was shot near
here on October 3."

A male specimen in the Maidstone Museum was picked
up alive in Mill Street, in that town, on November 27,
1881.

Genus PUFFINUS, Brisson.

GEEAT SHEAEWATEE.

Puffinus major, Faber. Prodr. isl. Oru., p. 56
(1822).

This Shearwater is only an occasional visitor to the
coast of Kent.

In 1891 Mr. J. H. Gurney records that " on October 29,
1890, an adult male Great Shearwater {Piiffinus major)
was found alive by a boy on the rocks at Ramsgate.
This bird was taken to Mr. Softley, who, by feeding it
on fish, kept it alive until May 9 (more than six months),
hoping it would lay an egg ; a futile hope, as it proved to
be a male."

MANX SHEARWATER 44-'

MANX SHEAEWATEE.

Fuffinus anglovuin (Temminck) . Man. cVOrn., ii.,
p. 80G (1820).

This species is more often found on the coast of Kent
than the former. It comes into the estuaries and bays
along the coast, generally in the aiitmnn and winter.

Mr. G. Dowker mentions it from Dover Bay. The
Eev. C. H. Fielding states it has been obtained at Erith.
Writing on October 21, 1862, Mr. H. L. Saxby says :
" Yesterday afternoon I saw a specimen of the above
in this harbour (Sheerness). It was sitting rather deeply
in the water, and although making vigorous use of its
feet, was being so rapidly carried backwards by the ebb
tide and heavy south-west gale that it was occasionally
compelled to take wing in order to avoid being drifted
too close to the ships. It rose from the surface with
very little effort, and had rather a graceful appearance
when upon the wing, but its mode of flight was peculiar,
owing to the bird's strange but well-known habit of
making an occasional rapid stop, apparently with no
other object than that of dashing aside the water with
its breast, immediately afterwards ascending in a gentle
curve. Although it was at times completely at the mercy
of the wind and tide it seemed to be perfectly at ease,
dipping and preening its feathers and sometimes rising
upon its feet as it flapped the water from its wings. It
proved to be a female in good condition."

446 THE BIRDS OF KE^;T

LESSEE DUSKY SHEAEWATEE.

Puffinus assiinilis, Gould. Proc. Zool. Soc, 1837,
p. 156 ; Birds of Australia, vii., pi. 59 (1848).

Dr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited, at a meetinc;; of the
British Ornithologists' Club, held on December 13, 1905,
" a male specimen of the Lesser Dusky Shearwater
{Puffinus assimilis) which had been caught alive by Mr.
WalHs, of Lydd, Kent. It had been caught near that
town after that disastrous south-west gale of Novem-
ber 26 to 27, and kept alive for two days in a pool of
water. When examined it was covered with sand and
sodden with sea-water."

Family COLYMBID^.

Genus COLYMBUS, Linnffius.

GEEAT NOETHEEN DIVEE.

Colymhiis glacialis, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 221
(1766).

The specimens of this northern species which have
been procured on the coast of Kent are immature birds,
taken during the winter, v,'hich have been driven down
south by severe weather.

It is included in Boys' Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, 1844, says : " This bird has
been observed in Komney Marsh." There is a Kentish
specimen in the Maidstone Museum presented by Major
Best. Mr. G. Dowker says that it is " met with in severe
weather, chiefly off Whitstable and the Kiver Stour."

Mr. W. Prentis also states that " immature birds are
sometimes met with and shot on the Medway."

RED-THROATED DIVER 447

BLACK-THEOATED DIVEE.

Colymhus arcticns, Linn9eus. S.N., i., p. 221 (1766).

Like the former species, a winter visitor, and most of
them immature birds.

Morris mentions that " one was killed near Sitting-
bourne in Kent in 1840, recorded by Mr. Chaffey."

In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds it is stated
that " Mr. S. Mummery, of Margate, sent the author
notice that a beautiful specimen was captured June 2,
1842, in Sandwich Haven, and this, being a fine male
bird, was preserved, and deposited in the Museum at
Margate." The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, 1844, says
" it has also been seen in Komney Marsh."

The Eev. C. H. Fielding records it from Erith in 1850
and Upchurch in 1888. There is a specimen in the
Maidstone Museum, obtained in the Medway by Mr.
W. H. Bensted.

Mr. G. Dowker mentions it from various localities on
the coast, and Mr. W. Prentis also.

EED-THEOATED DIVEE.

Colymhus septentrionalis, Linnaeus. /S'.iV., i, p. 220

(1766).

Sprat Loon ; Silver Grrebe.

The Eed-throated Diver is the most numerous species
on the coast of Kent during the autumn and winter,
where it may be found in the estuaries, especially along
the shore, following the shoals of sprats. From the above

448 THE BIRDS OF KENT

habit it is commonly called the Sprat Loon in Kent. It
is very rarely procured on this coast in full dress ; they
are usually immature birds, but Mr. Skinner, of Faver-
sham, mentions one shot on November 11, 1869, with
indications of the red throat.

Mr. H. Payne obtained a male on the Med way, near
Sheerness, December 5, 1890, now in the Maidstone
Museum.

Family PODICIPID^.

Genus PODICIPES, Liniicons.

GEEAT CKESTED GEEBE.

Podicipes cristatus (Linnaeus). >S'.-ZV., i., p. 222
(1766).

The Great Crested Grebe is a winter visitor to the
coast of Kent, and only sparingly in any locality. They
are always in winter or immature dress. It is included
in every list of the birds found in the county, and nearly
all collections contain specimens. Boys adds it to his
Birds of Sandwich, 1792. The Kev. J. Pemberton Bart-
lett, in 1844, says " it has been seen in Eomney Marsh."

A specimen in the Maidstone Museum was obtained
on the Med way in 1876, by Mr. AV. W. Allport, and
another at Sheerness, November 19, 1890, by Mr. H.
Payne. Mr. E. G. Eoger procured one which was caught
on the Eoyal Military Canal in Eomney Marsh not far
from Ham Street, Orlestone, Kent, in 1905.

Mr. E. J. Balston shot one of these birds in the lower
part of the Medway about 1880.

SCLA.VONIAN GREBE 449

EED-NECKED GEEBE.

Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert). Tahl. des PI.
Eul, p. 5^ (1783).

An occasional visitor during autumn and spring. They
are in winter and immature plumage, rarely found in full
dress.

Mr. W. F. W. Bird records that " on February 6,
1849, my friend, Mr. James Moore, from his yacht, killed
a Red-necked Grebe in Stangate Creek, near the mouth
of the Medway. It was a bird of last year, and was just
beginning to assume the adult plumage."

SCLAYONIAN GEEBE.

Podicipes aur it us (Linnaeus). B.N., i., p. 222 (1766).

This species is more usually met with in winter in
the estuaries of Kent than either of the former Grebes.
They are always in autumn or immature dress.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandivich, 1792, under
the name of " Less Crested Grebe."

In 1869 Mr. A. Skinner writes : " Two of these birds
were shot three miles from Faversham, on December 13.
One of these I received on the 14th ; it was an adult male,
in winter plumage. I was informed by the man who
shot them that there were several of them together."
Mr. G. Dowker says : " this bird was shot near Stour-
mouth in January, 1885 " ; and Mr. W. Prentis records
it from the Rainham marshes.

On November 11, 1906, a young Podicipes auritus was
shot on the Medway between Gilhngham and Sheerness,
by Mr. H. Payne, and is now in the Maidstone Museum ;
another was obtained by Mr. E. J. Balston.
29

450 THE BIRDS OF KENT

EAEED GEEBE.

Podicipes nigi^icoUis (C. L. Brehm). Vog. Deutschl.^
p. 963 (1831).

This pretty Grebe is comparatively rare on the coast
of Kent, and being only a winter visitor it may be often
mistaken for the young of the Sclavonian Grebe.

Mr. G. Dowker writes : " I met with the Eared Grebe
in February, 1875 ; it was caught in a duck pond near
the yard at North Court, Stonrmoath, and brought to me
alive; it was a young bird. It is in the possession of
Dr. Gulliver, of Canterbury." Mr. W. Prentis says :
" I have only known of a single pair of Eared Grebes
being shot in the Rainham district, both immature, in
the month of September, 1881. Mr. G. W. Bradshaw,
of Hastings, writes : " On November 14, 1896, I had
brought to me a male Eared Grebe shot on the sea about
a mile east of Dungeness, Kent. Weight 9 ounces ;
contents of gizzard, a little moss; eye, yellow."

A specimen in the Maidstone Museum was obtained
on December 15, 1899, at Shaffleet Marsh, Kent, by Mr.
H. Payne.

LITTLE GREBE.

Podicii:)es fluviatilis (Tunstall). Orn. Brit., p. 3

(1771).

Dabchick.

This small Grebe is the best known of the species in
Kent, especially under the name Dabchick. It is found
in nearly all the swampy marshes and reed-bound lakes

RAZORBILL 451

and ponds, where it breeds. A great many remain all
the year, but during very severe weather they leave the
frozen lakes, and increase again in numbers in summer
and the breeding season.

Mr. E. T. Filiner says they are to be found in the large
reed-beds near Fairfield Church, in Komney Marsh.

Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds on the
beach at Dungeness, says : May 10 to 14, 1900 : " Little
Grebe breeding in considerable numbers in the ditches
and pieces of water on the marshland. I found nests
with fresh eggs and eggs just hatching out on May 13."

Family ALCID^.

Genus ALCA, Linnaeus.

EAZOEBILL.

Alca torda, LimicTus. S.N., i., p. 210 (1766).

Auk.

The Eazorbill is an occasional winter visitor to the
shores and estuaries of Kent. They generally keep out
at sea, but are driven in during north-easterly gales.
Boys adds this species to his Birds of Scmchvich, 1792,
under the name of " Auk."

Mr. E. J. Balston shot a solitary bird in the Med way,
off Okeham Ness, on December 8, 1886, and on the 18th
he shot one of a pair in the Thames in Sea Eeach. Mr.
G. Dowker obtained it at Stourmouth. It has been
obtained at many places along the coast.

452 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus LOMYIA, Brandt.
GUILLEMOT.

Lomvia troile (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 220 (1766).

During the summer and breeding season the Guille-
mot is very numerous on the coast of Kent, but it is
also found all through the winter, though in diminished
numbers, by its migration south.

There is a colony of these birds at St. Margaret's
Bay, which is thus described by Mr. J. Briggs : "St.
Margaret's Bay is situated perhaps four miles from
Dover, near the South Foreland Lighthouse, on the
Kentish Coast. It is buried in a deep recess betweeii
high and prominent chalk cliffs, and contains a few
houses, occupied chiefly by fishermen and the coastguard
stationed there for the prevention of smuggling. During
the month of May, in the present year (18.52), I paid a
visit to this remarkable spot and picked up the following
gleanings in Natural History : —

" On the most inaccessible parts of the cliffs, over-
looking the sea, between St. Margaret's and Dover, I
found the Guillemot breeding ; but I was told that this
bird existed there in much more limited numbers now
than formerly. The eggs were found resting lightly on
the shelves of the cliffs, without nests ; and I can bear
testimony to the truth of the assertions which naturalists
have made, that the eggs of this bird vary greatly both
in ground-colour and markings. Of the three which I
was able to procure, one had its ground-colour greenish-
white, and its broad end banded w^ith a ring of deep

GUILLEMOT 453

black blotches, its sides varied with a few spots, but none
at the smaller end. Another egg had a large black
blotch on the centre of the broad end, from which
diverged numerous spots, which became smaller in size
as they approached the narrow end ; ground-colour white.
A third had some well-defined but irregularly shaped
black spots scattered over it upon a greenish-white
ground. These eggs were procured on May 26, 1852, and
incubation had just commenced."

Writing in 1868, Mr. J. Hunter says that a "Guille-
mot was shot on November 9, at Faversham Creek, fully
two miles from the open sea." There is a male in the
Maidstone Museum which was picked up after a storm
on Boxley Hill, on November 16, 1884, by Mr. A. F.
Style.

Colonel H. W. Fielden, in 1887, writes : " A visitor to
the cliff immediately below the South Foreland Light-
houses will be further gratified by finding that a consider-
able colony of Guillemots make it their breeding-station.
It is a very bold, perpendicular headland, and I should
consider it to be only accessible to experienced cragsmen
with proper appliances. To stand below this cliff and
watch the Guillemots shoot down from their lofty ledges
to the sea is a very pretty sight. My eye could not dis-
cern any movement in their wings ; the feet stretched
out behind seemed to be the guiding power. I picked up
one little downy black young one at the base of the cliff,
which shows that the Guillemots breed there."

454 THE BIRDS OF KENT

Genus URIA, Brisson.
BLACK GUILLEMOT.

Uria grijlle (Linnaeus). 8.N., i., p. 220 (1766).

A rare occasional visitor to the coast of Kent. The
Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, says :
" Of this very rare bird one specimen has been obtained
in the parish of Lydd, and is now in Dr. F. Plomley's
collection."

Mr. G. Dowker records that a " young bird was met
with by Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond."

Genus MERGULUS, Vieillot.
LITTLE AUK.

Mergulus alle (Linnaeus). S.N., l, p. 211 (1766).

During heavy north-easterly gales in winter the Little
Auk is driven on to the coast of Kent, and on several
occasions it has been found far inland. It is only an
accidental visitor to the county.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792.
Morris states that " one was shot near Dover in 1840,
and many were off the coast in 1841."

Mr. C. Gordon, waiting on November 24, 1870, says :
" A Little Auk was taken last week. Its capture was
very singular. A party fishing saw the bird close to the
boat, and on throwing the bait for fishing the bird tried
to seize it ; the party then threw a bait again towards

PUFFIN 455

the bird, and succeeded in bringing it to the boat's side,
and then caught it with the hand."

Captain J, D. Cameron writes that a Little Auk, found
at Bethersden, was brought to him.

On December 28, 1878, Mr. K. J. Balston secured a
Little Auk which was captured on one of the ponds at
Boxley Abbey, in Kent. It was a male bird, and is now
in the Maidstone Museum.

Genus FRATERCULA, Brisson.

PUFFIN.

Fraterciila arctica (Linnaeus). >S'.iV., i., p. 211

(1766).

Willock.

The Puffin, like most of the northern sea-birds, is driven
on to the coast of Kent in severe weather, but only as an
accidental visitor.

Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandioich, 1792. The
Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1841, says : " These
curious birds are occasionally to be found in the cliffs in
the neighbourhood of Dover."

Mr. Eiley Fortune writes : " I have in my collection
a specimen of the Puffin, which was shot on the Thames
between Erith and Gravesend, on June 12, 1885."

Mr. W. Prentis says : " A storm-driven Puffin was
picked up dead on our Eainham marsh after the No-
vember gale of 1893."

A young bird of the year was picked up on Blue Bell
Hill, above Aylesford, Kent, in October, 1905, and is now
in the Maidstone Museum.

INDEX.

Aberdevine, Siskin, 160
Accentor modularis, 91
Accipiter nisus, 290
Acredula caudata, 95

,, rosea, 95
Acroceplialus aquaticus, 86
,, pahistris, 82

,, phragmitis, 87

,, strepcrus, 79

turdoides, 83, 84, 85
Mgialitis cantiana, 376
,, hiaticula, 380
Agelcsus 2)ha7iiceus, 206
Alauda arhorea, 227
,, arvensis, 225
,, cristata, 228
AlaudidcB, Family, 225
4Zca iorrfa, 451
Alcedo ispida, 254
AlcedinidcB, Family, 254
AlcidcB, Family, 451
AvipeUdcB, Family, 137
Ampelis garrulus, 137, 140
Anas boschas, 332
AnatidcE, Family, 320
Anser albifrons, 322
,, anser, 321
,, hrachyrhynchus, 322
,, segetum, 321
Anthus cervinus, 114
,, ohscuriis, 117
,, pretensis, 113, 118
,, richardi, 116
,, rupestris, 118
,, spipoletta, 118
,, trivialis, 115

Aqiiila chrysaetus, 287
Archihuteo lagopus, 284
Ardea alba, 311

,, bubidciis, 311

,, cinerea, 309

,, purpurea, 310

,, ralloides, 311
ArdcidcB, Family, 309
Ardetta minuta, 312
^sio brachyotus, 272

,, o/«s, 271
Asionida, Family, 271
Astur palumbarins, 289
Athene passerina, 276
Auk, Little, 454

,, Eazorbill, 451
Avocet, 388

B

Bargauder, Sheldrake, 327
Bee-Eater, 257
Bernicla bernicla, 323

,, canadensis, 324

,, lexicopsis, 323
Bittern, 313

,, American, 314
Little, 312
Blackbird, 13, 14, 15, 16
Blackcap, 57, 58-60
Bluethroat, Eed-spotted, 38, 39

White-spotted, 37, 38
Botanrns lentiginosus, 314

,, stellaris, 313
Brambling, 184
B«Z)0 6u6o, 276
Bullfinch, 190
Bunting, 197

INDEX

457

Bunting, Cirl, 200
Corn, 197
,, Lapland, 204
Ortolan, 201
,, Reed-, 202
Snow-, 205
Tawny, 205
Yellow, 198
Bustard, Great, 366
Little, 367
Butcher-Bird, Great, 128

,, Bed-backed Shrike,

182
Buteo buteo, 281
Buzzard, 281

,, Honey-, 293

,, Rough-legged, 284

C

Caccabis rufa, 353
Calandrella bracliydactyla, 230
Calcarius lapponicus, 204
Calidris arenaria, 406
GaprhmdgidcE, Family, 237
Caprimulgus europceus, 237
Carduelis carduelis, 159
Certhia familiaris, 157
Certhiidcs, Family, 157
Chaffinch, 180
CliaradriidcE, Family, 372
Charadritis pluvialis, 374
Chaulelasmus streperus, 334
Chelidon urbica, 151
Chenalopex agyptiacus, 320
Cbiffchaff, 69-72
Chough, 211

Chrysomitris spinus, 160
Ciconia ciconia, 315

,, nigra, 316
CiconiidcB, Family, 315
CinclidcB, Family, 93
Cincbts aquaticus, 93

,, cinclus, 93
Circus (sruginosus, 277

,, cineraceus, 278

,, cyaneus, 278

Cobb, Great Black-backed Gull,
433
,, or Sea-Cobb, Lesser Grey
Gull, 432
Cobbler's Awl, Avocet, 388
Coccothraustes coccotliraustes, 164
Clangula glaucion, 340
Columba livia, 349
,, cenas, 348
,, palumhus, 346
Columbida, Family, 346
Colymbidiv, Family, 446
Colymbus arcticns, 447
,, glacialis, 446
,, scptentrionalis, 4^77
Coot, 364

Coracias garrula, 256
CoraciidcE, Family, 256
Cormorant, 306
Corvidcc, Family, 211
Corvus corax, 224
,, comix, 218
„ corone, 218
,, frugilegiis, 220
,, monedula, 216
Cotile riparia, 155
Coturnix coturnix, 356
Courser, Cream-coloured, 372
Crake, Baillon's, 361
„ Corn, 361
„ Spotted, 360.
Crane, 365
Creeper, 157
Creeper, Tree, 157, 158
Crex crex, 361
Crock, or Crocker, Black-headed

Gull, 434
Crossbill, 192

„ Parrot, 196
,, Two-barred, 197
Crow, Black, or Crow, 218
Carrion, 218
Dun, 218
Grey, 218
Hooded, 218
Kentish, 218
Queenborough, 218
Red-legged, 211

458

THE BIRDS OF KENT

Crow, Royston, 218
Cuckoo, 262
Cuckoo's Mate, 250
CuculidcB, Family, 262
Cuculus canorus, 262
Curlew, 417

„ Pigmy, 402

,, Stone-, 368

Cursorius gallicus, 37^

Cyanecida suecica, 38

,, wolfi, 37, 38

Cygnus heiuickii, 326
,, cygnus, 325
,, immutahilis, 325
,, olor, 324
CypselidcE, Family, 234
Cypselus apus, 234
,, melba, 237

D

Dabchick, Little Grebe, 450
Dafila acuta, 331
Daulias luscinia, 45

,, philomela, 44, 45
Daw, or Jackdaw, 216
Dendrocopus major, 246
,, minor, 247

Dicky Dunnocks, 91
Dipper, 93

Black-bellied, 93
Dishwasher, Peggy, 107

Pied Wagtail, 107
Yellow, 111
Diver, Black-throated, 447
,, Dud, Goosander, 344
,, Great Northern, 446
,, Magpie, 346
,, Red-throated, 447
Dotterel, 383

Laud, 383
,, Ring, 380
Dove, Ring, 346
,, Rock, 349
,, Stock, 348
,, Turtle, 349
Duck, Eider, 342

Duck, King, 342

,, Long-tailed, 341

„ Morillon, 340

„ Red-crested, 338

,, Tufted, 338

,, Wild, 332

,, White-eyed, 340
Dun-bird, Pochard, 339
Dunlin, 399

E

Eagle, Golden, 287
,, Sea, 287
„ White-tailed, 287
Emheriza cirlus, 200
,, ciirinella, 198
,, Jiortiilana, 201
,, viiliaria, 197
,, schceniclus, 202
Erithacus riihecula, 40
Erne, White-tailed Eagle, 287
Eudromias morinellus, 383

F

Falco CBsalo7i, 299
,, peregrimis, 295
„ subbuteo, 298
Falcon, Hobby, 298
Iceland, 294
,, Merlin, 299
,, Peregrine, 295
Red footed, 301
Falconida, Family, 277
Felt, Fieldfare, 10
Fieldfare, 10, 11, 12, 13
Finch, Storm, StormPetrel, 442
Fire-crest, 67, 68
Flamingo, 319
Flycatcher, Pied, 142

Spotted, 140
Fratercula arctica, 455
Fringilla ccelehs, 180

,, montifringilla, 184
Fringillidce, Family, 159
Fulica atra, 364
Fuligula ferina, 339

INDEX

459

Fuligula fuligiila, 338

,, marila, 339

,, rtifina, 338
Furze-chat, 31

G

Gadwall, 334

Galley-bird, Green Woodpecker,

248
Gallinago gallinago, 395

,, major, 395

Gallinula cliloropus, 363
Gannet, 308
Garganey, 334
GarriUus glandariiis, 214
Gecinus viridis, 248
Glareola melanoptera, 371

,, pratincola, 371
Glareolidiv, Family, 371
Goatsucker, 237
Godwit, Bar-tailed, 415

„ Black-tailed, 416

,, Commou, 415
Goldcrest, 66, 67
Goldeneye, 340
Goldfinch, 159, 160
Goosander, 344
Goose, Barnacle-, 323

,, Bean-, 321

,, Brent-, 323

,, Canada, 324

,, Clatter, Brent Goose, 323

,, Coal Cormorant, 306

„ Cole Shag, 307

,, Crocker, Egyptian Goose,
323

,, Egyptian, 320

„ Grey Lag, 321

,, Minute, 346

,, Pink-footed, 322

,, Solan, 308

„ White-fronted, 322
Gowk, Cuckoo, 262
Grebe, Eared, 450

,, Great Crested, 448

,, Little, 450

Red-necked, 449

Grebe, Sclavonian, 449

,, Silver, Red-throated Diver,
447
Greenfinch, 162
Greenshauks, 414
Grey-Bird, Song-Thrush, 5
Grey Pate, Linnet, 185
Grosbeak, Pine, 191
Grossbeak, Hawfinch, 164
Grouse, Black, 357

Pallas's Sand-, 350
Red, 357
Gruidcs, Family, 865
Grzis grus, 365
Guillemot, 452

Black, 454
Gull, Black-headed, 434
,, Bonaparte's, 438
,, Glaucus, 429
,, Great Black-backed, 433
,, Herriug, 429
,, Lesser Black-backed, 434

Grey Gull, 432
,, Little, 437

,, Yellow-legged Herring, 431
„ Winter, 432

H

HcBinatopiis ostralegus, 387
Hagister, Slagpie, 215
Haliaetus albicilla, 287
Hammer, Yellow, 198
Harelda glaclalis, 341
Harrier, Hen, 278
Marsh, 277
Montagu's, 278
Hawfinch, 164
Hawk, Blue, IMerliu, 299

,, Gos-, 289

,, Kestrel, 302

„ Night, Thick knee, 368

,, Sparrow, 290
Hedge-poker, 91
Hedge-Sparrow, 91
Helodromas ocliropus, 408
Hern, Grey, Heron, 309

460

THE BIRDS OF KENT

Heron, 309

,, Buff-backed, 311

,, Great White, 311

,, Night, 312

,, Purple, 310

,, Squacco, 811
Hierofalco islanchis, 294
HimantopiLS himantuptis, 390
Hirundinidce, Family, 143
Hirundo rustica, 143
Hobby, 298
Hoopoe, 257

HydrocJielidon nigra, 427
Hypolais icterina, 76, 77

Ibis, Glossy, 319
Icterida, Family, 206
lynx torqiiilla, 250

Jackdaw, 216

Jay, 214

Joe Ben, Great Titmouse, 96

Jolly, White throat, 53, 54

Joy, Jay, 214

K

Kate, Brambling, 184
Kestrel, 302

,, Lesser, 304
Kingfisher, 254
Kip, Tern, 420
Kite, 292
Kittiwake, 42S
Knot, 404

Lagopus scoticus, 357
Laniidoi, Family, 128
Lanius collurio, 132

,, cxciibitor, 128, 129
,, major, 131
,, minor, 131
,, nubicus, 137
,, pomeraniis, 134

Lapwing, 384
Lark, Black, 231
Crested, 228
Dusky, Rock Pipit, 117
Less Field, 113
Nib, Corn Bunting, 197
Sea, Ringed Plover, 380
Shore, 232

,, Rock Pipit, 117
Short-toed, 230
Sky, 225

White- winged, 231
Wood, 227
Laridce, Family 419
Larus argentatus, 429
,, cachinnans, 431
,, canus, 432
,, fuscus, 434
,, glaucus, 429
,, mar inns, 433
,, minutus, 437
,, Philadelphia, 438
,, ridibundiis, 434
Liguriniis chloris, 162
Limicola platyrhyncha, 398
Limnocryptes gallinula, 398
Limosa cegocephela, 416

,, lapponica, 415
Linnet, 185

Grey, 185
,, i\Iountain, 190
Linota cannabina, 135
,, fiavirostris, 120
,, linaria, 187
,, rufescens, 188
Locustella luscinioides, 71

,, ncBvia, 88

Lomvia troile, 452
Loon, Sprat, Rsd-throated Diver,

447
Loxia bifasciata, 197
,, curvirostra, 192
,, pityopsittacus, 196

M

Machetes pugnax, 405
2Iacrorhampi]ius griseus, 415

INDEX

461

Magpie, 215

galley-Bird, 246
Mallard, 332
Mareca penelope, 330
Martin, 151, 155
,, House, 151

Sand-, 155, 157
Mavis, Song-Thrush, 5
May Bird, Whimbrel, 41G
Meggie, Whitethroat, 53, 55, 56
Mdanocorijplia sibirica, 231

,, yeltoniensis, 231

Melizophilus nndata, 64
Merganser, Red-breasted, 345
Mergulus alle, 454
Mergiis albellus, 346
,, merganser, 344
,, serrator, 345
Merlin, 299
Meropidce, Family, 257
Merops apiaster, 257
Mew, or Sea Mew, Lesser Black-
backed Gull, 434
Milvus milvus, 292
Mimus polyglottus, 92
Mocking-bird, Northern, 92
Moor Hen, 363
Motacilla alba, 106

„ fl.ava, 110

,, lugubris, 107

„ melanope, 108

,, provincialis, 64

,, raii. 111

,, undata, 64

,, viridis, 111
MotacillidcB, Family, 106
Muscicapa grisola, 140

,, atricapilla, 142

MuscicapidcB, Family, 140

N

Night-Hawk, 237
Nightingale, 45, 52

,, Greater, 44

,, Kentish, 57

Nightjar, 237

Nucifraga caryocatactes, 213
Numenius arqiiata, 417
,, phceopus, 416

Nutcracker, 213
Nuthatch, 103, 104, 105
Nyctala tengmalmi, 'ITi
Nyctea scandiaca, 274
Nycticorax griseus, 312
Nyroca ferruginea, 340

0

CEdemia nigra, 343
,, fusca, 344
CEdicnetmis mdicnemus, 368
Olive, Oyster-catcher, 387
Oriole, Golden, 118, 127
Oriolida>, Family, 118
Oriolus galbula, 118, 119, 122, 127
Osprey, 305
Otididm, Family, 366
Otis tarda, 366
,, tetrax, 367
Otocorys alpcstris, 232
Owl, American Screech, 275

Barn-, 268

Brown, 273

Eagle, 276

Eared, 271

European Hawk-, 274

Fern-, 237

Ivy, 273

Little, 276

Long-eared, 271

Mottled. 275

Scop's, 275

Screech-, 268

Short-eared, 272

Snowy, 274

Tawny, 273

Tengmalm's, 274

White, 268

Wood, 273
Ox-bird, Dunlin, 399

,, Sanderling, 406
Ox-eye, Great Titmouse, 96
Oyster-catcher, 387

462

THE BIRDS OF KENT

Paiulion haliaetus, 305
Pandle, Wigeou, 330
Panuridce, Family, 94
Panunis biarmicus, 94
ParidcE, 95
Partridge, 355

French, 353
Red-legged, 383
Parus hritanniciis, 98
,, ccBrideus, 100, 101
,, cristatus, 103
,, major, 96
,, palustris, 99
Passer domesiicus, 169

,, montana, 111
Pastor, Rose-coloured, 209
Pastor roseus, 209
Peewit, 384

Peggy White-throat, 53
Pelicanidcs, Family, 30G
Perdix])erdix, 355
Pernis apivoriis, 293
Petrel, Forlj-tailed, 443
,, Leach's, 443
,, Ridgway's, 442
,, Storm, 442
Petty-chaps, Greater, 62, 63
Phalacrocorax carbo, 306

,, gractdus, 807

Phalarope, Grey, 391

Red-necked, 390
Phalaropus fulicarins, 391

,, hyperboreus, 890

PhasianidcB, Family, 352
Phasiamcs colcJiicus, 352
Pheasant, 352

Phcenicop>teridcB, Family, 319
Phcenicopterus roseus 319
Phylloscopus rufus, 69, 72
,, sibilatrix, 75

,, super ciliosiis, 69

,, trochilus, 72

Pica pica, 215
Picidce, Family, 245
Picus viartiiis, 245
Pigeon-Fieldfare, 10
,, Wood, 346

Pinicola enucleator, 191
Pintail, 331

Pipit, Meadow, 113, 114
,, Red-throated, 114
,, Richard's, 116
„ Rock-, 117
,, Tree-, 115, 116
„ Vinous, 118
Platalca leucorodia, 317
Plataleida, Family, 317
Plectrophanes nivalis, 205
Plegadis falcinellus, 319
Plover, Golden, 374
,, Green, 384
„ Grey, 375
,, Kentish, 376
„ Norfolk, 368
,, Ringed, 380
,, Stone, 380
Pochard, 339
Podicipidcs, Family, 448
Podicipes auritus, 449
,, cristatus, 448
,, fiuviatilis, 450
,, griseigena, 449
,, nigricollis, 450
Porzana bailloni, 361
,, porzana, 360
Post-Bird, Spotted Flycatcher, 140
Pratincola rubetra, 28
,, rubicola, 31

Pratincole, Black-winged, 371

Collared, 371
Procellaria cryptoleucura, 442
,, leucorrlioa, 443

,, pelagica, 442
Procellariidce, Family, 442
PteroclidcB, Family, 350
Puffin, 455

Puffinus anglorum, 445
,, assimilis, 446
,, major, 444
Purrc, Dunlin, 399
Pyrrhocorax gracidus, 211
Pyrrhula pyrrliula, 190

Q

Quail, 365

INDEX

463

Querq^uedula circia, 334
,, crecca, 336

R

Rail, Land-, 361

,, Water-, 358
RallidcB, Family, 358
Ealbis aquaticus, 358
Raven, 224
Razorbill, 451
Becurvirostra avocctta, 388
Redbreast, 40, 41, 43
Redpoll, Lesser, 183

„ Mealy, 187
Redshanks, 411

Spotted, 413
Redstart, 33, 34, 35

Black, 35, 36, 37
Redwing, 8, 9, 10, 12
Reeve, Ruff, 405
Regulus ignicapilliis, 67

,, regtilus, 66
Ring-Ouzel, 16, 18
Eissa tridactyla, 428
Robin, 40, 41-44
Roller, 256
Rook, 220
Ruff, 405

Ruticilla phcenicurus , 33
titys, 35

S

Sanderling, 406
Sandpiper, 407

,, Ash-coloured, 404

,, Broad-billed, 398

,, Curlew, 402

,, Green, 408

,, Greenwich, 405

„ Grey, Grey Plover, 375

,, Pectoral, 399

,, Purple, 404

,, Spotted, 408

,, Wood, 410

Saxicola cencmthc, 23

,, stapazina, 28

Scaup, 339

Scolopacida, Family, 388
Scolopax riisticola, 392
Scops asio, 275
,, scops, 275
Scoter, Black, 343

,, Velvet, 344
Screech-Owl, Swift, 234
Screecher, Swift, 234
Sea Pie, Oyster catcher, 387
Serin, 162

Serimcs serinus, 162
Shag, 307
Shearwater, Great, 444

,, Lesser Dusky, 446

,, Manx, 445

Sheldrake, 327

Ruddy, 329
Shoveller, 337
Shrike, Ash-coloured, 128

,, Great, 128, 130

„ Grey, 128, 129

,, Lesser Grey, 131

,, Masked, 137

,, Pallas's Great Grey, 131

,, Red backed, 132

., Woodchat, 131, 135, 136
Siskin, 160
Sitta ccBsia, 103
Sittidcc, Family, 103
Skerrek, Little Tern, 422
Skua, Great, 438
,, Pomatorhine, 439
,, Richardson's. 441
Smew, 346
Snake-Bird, 250
Snipe, 395

,, Great, 395

,, Jack, 398

,, Jadreka, 410

,, Red-breasted, 415

„ Solitary, 395

,, Summer, 407
Snow Flake, 205
Somateria moUissivia, 342
,, spectabilis, 342

Sparrow, Hedge-, 91, 92

,, or House-Sparrow, 169

464

THE BIRDS OF KENT

Sparrow, Reed-, 202
,, Tree-, 177
Spattila clypcata, 337
Spoonbill, 317

Sprosser, Greater Nightingale, 45
Squatarola helvetica, 375
Squeaker, Swift, 231
Stare, or Starling, 207
Starling, 207

,, Red-winged, 206
Stercorarius catarrliactes, 438
,, crepidatiis, 441

,, poviatorliinus, 439

Sterna anglica, 425

,, boysii, 426

,, cantiaca, 426

,, casjjia, 425

,, dougalli, 422

,, fluviatilis, 420

,, hirundo, 419

,, minuta, 422

,, sandvicensis, 426
Stilt, Black-winged, 390
Stint, Little, 400

,, Temminck's, 401
Stonechat, 31, 32
Stone-runner, Ringed Plover, 380
Stork, Black, 316
„ White, 315
Stormcock, Missel Thrush, 1
Strepsilas interpres, 386
Strigidce, Family, 268
Strix flammea, 268
Sturmis vulgaris, 207
Siila bassana, 308
Siirnia ulula, 274
Swallow, 143, 150

,, Chimney, 143
,, House, 143
„ Sea, 420
Swan, Bewick's, 326

„ Mute, 324

,, Polish, 325

„ Whooper, 325
Swift, 234

,, Alpine, 237

„ White-billed, 237
Sylvia atricapilla, 57

Sylvia curruca, 55

,, dartfordiensis,

„ hippolais, 77

,, Jiortensis, 62

,, orphea, 56

,, salicaria, 62

,, Sylvia, 53
Syrnium aluco, 273
Syrrhaptes paradoxus, 350

T

Tadorna casarca, 329
,, tadorna, 327
Teal, 336
Tern, 420

,, Arctic, 419
„ Black, 427
,, Boys', 426
,, Caspian, 425
,, Gull-billed, 425
„ Little, 422
,, Roseate, 422
,, Sandwich, 426
Tetrao tetrix, 357
Tetraonidce, Family, 357
Thick-knee, 368
Throstle, Song-Thrush, 5, 7
Thrush, Missel, 1, 2
,, Misseltoe, 1
,, Red-breasted, 20, 21
Song-, 5, 6, 7, 8
White's, 18, 19, 20
Tinnunculus cenchris, 304

,, tinnunculus, 302

,, vespertinus, 301

Tit, Bottle, 95
Titlark, Meadow Pipit, 113

,, Tree Pipit, 115
Titmouse, Bearded, 94

Blue, 100, 101, 102
British Coal, 98

,, Long-tailed, 95
Great, 96
Crested, 103
Marsh, 99

White-headed Long-
tailed, 95

INDEX

465

Tomtit, Blue Titmouse, lOU

Tooke, Redshanks, 411

Totanus calidris, 411
,, canescens, 414
,, fusctts, 413
,, glareola, 410

Tringa alpina, 399
,, canutus 404
,, grenovicensis, 405
,, maculata, 399
,, minuta, 400
,, striata, 404
,, subarquata, 402
,, temviincki, 401

Tringoidcs hypoleucus, 407
,, viacularius, 408

Troglodytes parvulxis, 105

Troglodytidcv, Family, 105

Turdidcc, Family, 1

TiLvdus iliacus, 8
,, merula, 13
,, viigratorius, 20, 21
,, tnusicus, 5, 6
,, pilaris, 10
,, torqiiatiis, 16
,, varius, 18
,, viscivorus, 1, 4
„ zy/ii/ci, 18, 19

Turnstone, 886

Turtur ttirtur, 349

Twite, 190

U

Uimpa epops, 257
Upupidcc, Family, 257
t77-ia grylle, 454

Vanelliis ranelliis, 384

W

Wagell, Great Black-backed Gull,

433
Wagtail, Blue headed Yellow, 110
Grey, 108
,, Grey-beaded Yellow, 111
Grey Water, 108
Pied, 107
Wbeatear, 23

30

Wagtail, Wbitc, 106

Wbite Water, 107
Yellow, 111
Yellow Water, 111
Warbler, Aquatic, 86, 87
,, Blackcap, 57
Ghiffchaff, 69
Dartford, 64, 65
,, Garden, 62, 63
,, Grasshopper, 88, 90

Great Reed, 83
,, Icterine, 76, 77

Marsh, 82, 83
,, Orphean, 56
Reed, 78, 79
Savi's, 91
Sedge, 87, 88
Thrush, 84
Willow, 72-74
Wood, 75, 76
,, Yellow-browed, 69
Water-hen, 363
Waxwing, 137, 140
Whaup, Curlew, 417
Wbeatear, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Black-throated, 28
Whimbrel, 416
Whin chat, 28, 29, 30, 31
Whitethroat, 53, 54

,, Lesser, 55, 56

Wigeon, 330
Willock, Puffin, 455
Windbibber, Kestrel, 302
Wind-hover, Kestrel, 302
Windsucker, Kestrel, 302
Woodcock, 392
Woodpecker, Great Black, 245

,, Spotted, 246
,, Green, 248

,, Lesser Spotted, 247

Wren, 105

,, Melodious Willow, 77
,, Willow, 73
,, Yellow, 73
Wryneck, 250

Yailie, Green Woodpecker, 248