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. 



