SKY-LARK 225 



collection of E. J. Balston, Esq. According to Mr. W. 



Prentis, " the Raven is by no means common, our 



shepherds proclaim eternal war against them." On 

 April 19, 190G, a Raven was seen to come up from 



Romney Marsh, and pass over in the direction of 

 Bilsington. 



Family ALAUDID^. 



Genus ALAUDA, Linnaeus. 

 SKY-LARK. 



Alanda arvensis, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 287 (1766). 



The abundance and the song of the Sky-Lark is well 

 known to all lovers of birds throughout the county. 

 During the summer, what is more delightful than to 

 sit down and watch and hear the Sky-Lark ascend 

 on wing, singing its joyous song until almost out of 

 sight. 



In Kent, during the autumn, they collect in the 

 marshes in large flocks and travel south, leaving many 

 on the land. No doubt these are the birds that have 

 bred in the locality, and remain throughout the winter, 

 but not in large numbers. 



They have been noticed to leave East Kent in the 

 winter in large numbers and reappear about the second 

 week of February. 



On the afternoon of June 19, 1875, a Lark was seen 

 to perch on a stake of an old hedge at Cuzinton Farm, 

 Kent, and it was heard to sing while there. 



Mr. J. Fremlyn Streatfield, of Chart's Edge, Wester- 

 ham, records that on July 9, 1845, " a Lark's nest was 

 15 



