HAWFINCH 167 



I observed several Hawfinches feeding on some cherry 

 trees in this neighbourhood ; they were very shy, and 

 could scarcely be approached within gun-shot. I suc- 

 ceeded in bringing down one, a fine male. A man living 

 near the spot shot five at various times afterwards, two of 

 which were young ones." 



In 1873, Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain, 

 says : "In Kent the Hawfinch is very abundant. I may 

 mention many other localities where it may be found, 

 such as the pleasure grounds of W. Wells, Esq., at 

 Eedleaf, in Kent." 



In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds Professor 

 Newton says : " The Hawfinch is most abundant in Kent. 

 This is shown by the fact that in the present year (1876) 

 Lord Clifton, as he has informed me, knew of more than 

 fifty nests at Cobham." The Hawfinch is included among 

 the Birds of Bethersden by Captain J. D. Cameron, and 

 according to Mr. K. T. Filmer, a few birds usually visit 

 the cherry orchards at Ham Street every winter. 



In May, 1876, Mr. H. Kennard, who took great interest 

 in British birds, brought to the Maidstone Museum the 

 first nest in that institution ; it contained four eggs, and 

 was found at West Farleigh. Mr. Kennard cut it out 

 of an apple tree which was in full bloom. The nest 

 being covered by grey lichens and placed among the 

 apple-blossom, formed one of the most beautiful nests 

 imaginable. 



Mr. H. Lamb found several young Hawfinches flying 

 about in the cemetery at Maidstone in June, 1887. One 

 of the old birds was with them. A pair with nest and 

 eggs, and two young birds in the mottled plumage, were 

 obtained at Boughton in 1887, and presented to the 

 Maidstone Museum by E. J. Balston, Esq. There is 



