310 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



which is very old. Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East 

 Kent, says: "We have one Heronry at Chilham Castle, 

 which is known to have been in existence for the last 

 one hundred and twenty years ; they build here in lofty 

 beech and ash trees, and they make their nests in the 

 highest branches, nearly 100 feet from the ground ; at 

 present (1889) there are about seventy birds in the 

 breeding season." 



Mr. J. E. Harting {Zoologist, 1872) states that "in 

 the grounds of P. R. Hoare, Esq., at Kelsey Manor, 

 Beckenham, Kent, there are always one or two nests 

 annually, built in very aged Scotch firs, which hang over 

 the lake." There is another in Penshurst Park. Mr. 

 B. G. Rogers procured a Heron at Snargate on January 2, 

 1907. 



PURPLE HERON. 



Ardea purpiu'ea, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 236 

 (1766). 



This species is a rare visitor to Kent, and it is some 

 years since one has been seen or obtained. Dr. F. 

 Plomley, writing in 1847, states that he procured a 

 young bird at Lydd in September, 1838, and also "a 

 splendid specimen in the most perfect plumage, which 

 was shot at Lydd, in Romney Marsh, March 26 (1847), 

 and is in my collection." These birds are in his collec- 

 tion in the Dover Museum. 



Mr. W. Prentis mentions an immature bird that was 

 shot some years ago near the River Swale. 



