BEE-KATER 257 



Continental visitors, is, I think, worth reporting. When 

 first seen, on November 8, 1888, it was sitting upon the 

 end of a mangold-wurzel clump, where my labourers were 

 at work. As it appeared to be very weak, they gave 

 chase over the hedge, and finally captured the bird alive 

 on our Eainham marsh. It was very thin in condition, 

 dying soon after being caught, its death being probably 

 hastened by the effects of a very cold day," 



Family MEROPID^. 



Genus MEROPS, LinnEeus. 



BEE-EATER. 



Merops apiasier, Linnaeus. S.N., i., p. 182 

 (1766). 



The only records of the occurrence of the Bee-Eater 

 in Kent are given by the Eev. J. Pemberton in his Or)ii- 

 thology of Kent, 1844, as follows: "A specimen of this 

 rare bird was shot at Kingsgate, in the Isle of Thanet, in 

 May, 1827. (This specimen is figured in Yarrell's British 

 Birds.) There is also one in Dr. F. Plomley's collection, 

 which was shot in the parish of Lydd, in Kent." The 

 third bird is in the Exeter Museum, labelled Kent, 

 bequeathed by the late Rev. Bower-Scott. 



Family UPUPID^. 



Grenus UPUPA, Linnaeus. 



HOOPOE. 



Upupa epops, Linn^us. >S'.A^., i.,p. 183 (1766). 



From the long list of records of the occurrences, the 



Hoopoe is a frequent visitor to Kent, and would become 

 17 



