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 



