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. 



