428 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



numerous at Rainham. A few appear about the creeks 

 during September. Shot one, a bird of the year." Mr. 

 W. Prentis, of Rainliam, writes that " the Black Tern 

 visits us in the month of August. Always immature." 



A female of this species in the Maidstone Museum was 

 obtained at Marden, in Kent, on September 11, 1884, by 

 Mr. H. Kennard. Mr. C. Gordon, of Dover, obtained it 

 in June, 1885, near that place. 



In 1896 Captain Boyd Alexander says: "A pair of 

 Black Terns were seen on May 24, following the sea- 

 board in Romney Marsh." 



Genus RISSA, Stephens. 

 KITTIWAKE. 



Bissa tridactijla (Linn^us). S.N., i.,p. 2-24 (1766). 



Nearly all the year round the Kittiwake may be seen 

 or obtained on the coast of Kent, in all stages of plumage. 

 In the spring, and again in autumn, they become more 

 plentiful during immigration and migration. It is at the 

 latter period that many pass inland, or ascend the rivers 

 and are found on the large mud-flats and pastures, occa- 

 sionally being driven inland by gales and severe weather. 

 There are no suitable rocky cliffs on the coast for a bird 



L ; nd in Kent. 



There is a good series in various stages of plumage 

 in the Maidstone Museum, from the Lower Medway, 

 obtained by Mr. R. J. Balston. 



For the last few years these birds have come up the 

 Medway as far as Springfield, Maidstone. This year, 

 1907, the}^ arrived by the middle of August, which I 

 think is earlier than usual. — R. J. Balston. 



