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,. 



