228 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



that they seemed short, compact birds, and that the tail 

 was short — shorter, I should say, than any Sky-Lark's tail. 

 The breast appeared to be of a pure white ground colour, 

 the spots not being visible at such an altitude ; while on 

 the throat there was a very thick and distinctly marked 

 cluster of dark red spots. I consulted Mr. Harting's book 

 as to the distinction between the two species, and was 

 tolerably satisfied as to my birds being Wood-Larks ; but 

 what exactly gave me the idea of them was the figure 

 of the Wood-Lark in Our Native Songsters. I saw one 

 passing over on January 8, and two on January 14 (1868) ; 

 one of the latter, which I more particularly noticed, 

 seemed to be very dark-coloured." 



Mr. G. Dowker states that in the Stourmouth district 

 the Wood-Lark " comes in flocks in the winter." On 

 March 10, 1906, four or five of these birds were seen 

 above Kuckinge, apparently on their return and going 

 north. 



In the Maidstone Museum there is a nest and egg 

 procured by Mr. J. Coveney at Hollingbourne, Kent. 



CEESTED LAEK. 



Alaada cridata, Limic^us. 8.N., i., p. "288 (1766). 



The Crested Lark is evidently a rare, accidental visitor 

 to the county, and the only records of its occurrence in 

 Kent are taken from the Zoologist, 1867, p. 1167. On 

 June 1 Mr. M. Hutchinson wrote stating that he had 

 seen a " Crested Lark " near Blackheath, and the sub- 

 joined are particulars of the — 



Supposed Breeding of the Crested Lark in Kent. — 

 "Among the oological discoveries this year, none is 



