202 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, 1889, adds 

 this bird to his hst as an " accidental visitor," and on the 

 authority of the late Mr. C. Gordon, it was obtained at 

 Dover. 



EEED-BUNTING. 



Emheriza sclioenicliis, Linnaus. >S'.A^., i., p. 311 

 (1776). 



Eeed-SpaiTow, Boys, 1792. 



In all the large reed-beds on the marshes in Kent the 

 Eeed-Bunting is generally to be found, but it is not an 

 abundant species. In the summer and breeding season 

 they keep in pairs, and in autumn and winter they may 

 be seen in small family parties in the low-lying districts. 

 Occasionally they are found in inland districts. Captain 

 H. W. Hadfield notes the Eeed-Bunting as having been 

 shot on February 14, 1857, at Tonbridge, in Kent, and 

 Lord Clifton mentions that, " on December 28, 1868, 

 I was surprised to see a male Black-headed Bunting in 

 a dry coppice, the last place in which I should have 

 expected to see one. The nearest water to the woods 

 is the Med way. On January 6, 1869, I saw a Black- 

 headed Bunting at some distance from any water." 



This species is included in the following districts : 

 Higham, Eev. C. H. Fielding ; Bethersden, Captain J. 

 D. Cameron. It is a constant resident, according to Mr. 

 G. Dowker, in the Stourmouth district. At Orlestone, 

 Eomney Marsh, and in the surrounding country it is not 

 uncommon. On May 10 and 14, 1902, Mr. T. Hepburn 

 found it "nesting in some numbers in many places near 



