204 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



Genus CALCARIUS, Bechstein. 



LAPLAND BUNTING. 



Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus). f^.N., i., p. 317 

 (1766). 



In this county, like all other parts of England, the 

 Lapland Bunting is only an accidental visitor, being 

 driven down from its northern home during the autumn 

 and winter owing to the severity of the weather. 



On February 28, 1867, Mr. J. Jenner Weir w^rote to 

 the Zoologist stating that a Lapland Bunting had been 

 obtained at Lewisham in Kent : " This very rare straggler 

 was captured, during the late severe weather, in Lewis- 

 ham brickfields, near the Lewisham Road. The speci- 

 men is a male in the winter plumage, the velvety black 

 beginning to show a little on the head and breast. The 

 bird is very lively, and though the lark-feet would 

 suggest a different habit, appears to prefer perching to 

 resting on the ground. I may add that it showed its 

 affinity to the Buntings by descendmg when caught to 

 the call of the Common Bunting." Mr. G. Dowker 

 records this bird at Dover on the authority of the late 

 Mr. C. Gordon, and at Folkestone on that of Mr. H. 

 Ullyett. 



In the Zoologist, 1883, Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond 

 records the capture of a Lapland Bunting in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Wingham in Kent : " The bird-catcher had 

 taken what he termed an ' Ortolan,' but which was, 

 indeed, a Lapland Bunting in its winter dress." 



