216 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



111 1902, when collecting at New Komney and Little- 

 stone, Mr. E. F. M. Elms remarks: "Komney Marsh 

 is hardly suitable to the requirements of the crafty Mag- 

 pie, as, comparatively speaking, it is a somewhat treeless 

 district ; but nevertheless a pair were observed, and the 

 nest located. This was built about 8 feet from the 

 ground in the thickest part of a hedgerow running along 

 the side of the road, and was composed of stoutish twigs 

 and the usual formidable thorns. To those who once 

 believed in the two species of Magpies — the one that 

 built in a tree, and the other that placed its nest in a 

 bush — this present case would doubtless furnish sub- 

 stantial evidence of a difference. The nest under con- 

 sideration contained four of the usual eggs disposed 

 synnnetrically around a large stone." 



In 1902 a hundred Magpies were killed by Mr. 

 Balston's keepers in the neighbourhood of Ham Street 

 and Euckinge, out of which seventy were destroyed on 

 the borders of the Marsh. 



Genus CORYUS, LinncPus. 

 JACKDAW. 



Corvus monedula, Linnsus. S.N., i., p. 156 

 (1766). 



Daw. 



There are few old castles, churches, or large hollow 

 trees, that are not made the home of the Jackdaw, in 

 fact, he will make himself at home among the chimneys 

 of our large modern buildings in the county towns and 

 villages. The bird is plentiful in certain districts which 



