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, 



