HOODED CROW '219 



ingly common during the winter months, arriving about 

 the second week in October, and leaving again early in 

 the spring, although my brother once saw one as late 

 as April 18. These birds roost at night in the woods, 

 and at first streak of dawn wend their way to the 

 marshes, where they generally remain until dusk. In 

 foggy weather they take to the orchards, and are then 

 somewhat less difficult to approach. A ' sprat field ' is, 

 however, their delight ; here they gorge themselves ; 

 indeed, they are not at all particular in their food, 

 little coming amiss to their stomachs, from live crabs to 

 dead sheep. In 1868 Mr. F. D. Power observed one on 

 October 1, and by the end of the second week they were 

 numerous." Lord Clifton states that on October 6, 

 1876, he " saw the first Hooded Crow here (Cobham, 

 Kent) three days earlier than I ever saw one before." 

 It is a regular visitor to the Stour Marshes, according 

 to Mr. G. Dowker. It was obtained at Pluckley on 

 October 12, 1897, and this specimen is now in the Maid- 

 stone Museum. It is included in the birds of Bethersden 

 by Captain J. D. Cameron. It is plentiful in winter on 

 the banks and marshes of the Medway below Aylesford, 

 according to Mr. H. Elgar. It was not until October 19, 

 1905, that the Hooded Crow was seen near Lympne. 



Mr. T. Hepburn, in his notes on the birds of North 

 Kent, states that the "earliest date I have noted of 

 seeing the Hooded Crow in the autumn is October 21, 

 1900, and the latest date in spring is April 21, 1900 ; 

 but a closer observation than I am able to keep would 

 no doubt give more exceptional dates. It is a common 

 sight to see both Hooded and Carrion-Crows feeding out 

 on the mud-flats, amongst Gulls and other birds, at 

 low tide." 



