100 
invariably young birds. The rare Eared Grebe I met with in 1875 ; 
it was caught in a duck pond near the yard at North Court, and 
brought me alive; it was a young bird, it lived only a few days, and 
I gave the specimen to Dr. Gulliver, of Canterbury—this was in 
February. The Sclavonic Grebe was shot near here in the Stour, 
January, 1885, and was likewise a young specimen of the first year. 
FAMILY PELECANIDA.—(page 117). 
The Cormorant is only a visitor to our shores, though plentiful 
more to the west. I have no note of the occurrence of the Shag. 
The Gannet is met with occasionally off the coast. 
THE FAMILY OF ARDEID&.—(page 117). 
Some of these that were once often met with are, alas, now but 
seldom seen, the Bittern becoming scarcer every year; the Heron, 
although protected in its breeding quarters, is barely able to 
maintain its numbers; of the Little Bittern, a rare visitor, we have 
one recorded from this neighbourhood, killed in Mr. Delmar’s pond. 
We have one Heronry, at Chilham Castle, which is known to have 
been in existence for the last 120 years; they build here in lofty 
Beech and Ash trees, and they make their nests in the highest 
branches, nearly 100 feet from the ground; at present there are 
about 70 birds in the breeding season. The birds never breed on 
the ground, or even alight on the ground near the trees; if any of 
the young birds fall to the ground from their nests, they are 
abandoned by the old birds, and they never try to recover food that 
has fallen; the Rooks will sometimes take up their abode near 
them. There are no large Hawks strong enough to cope with 
the Herons, and they are not disturbed in their nesting places, so 
they ought to increase greatly in numbers. It is thought that 
150 birds may be found after the hatching, but a great many must 
be killed, as they do not increase. 
They arrive about the middle of February in their breeding 
quarters, or later if the weather is cold; they rear their young about 
the end of August, and only a solitary one or two may be seen from 
time to time during the winter. The Heron sits about three weeks, 
and the young keep their nests for about the same period; they lay 
about 4 or 5 eggs. I have obtained these particulars from the 
keeper. The Purple Heron is recorded from Lydd, and the Night 
Heron from the same place, and one from Minster in 1852 ; also the 
American Bittern is recorded from East Keut, in 1854; all are 
accidental visitors. 
FAMILY CICONIIDA!.—(page 118). 
The White Stork, which was found at Rainham in 1884, 
appears the only specimen that has been obtained of late years, 
