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of the Dover Museum, to read the paper which he had heen 

 good enough to prepare for the occasion. 



Mr. GoBDox, after expressing the pleasure which it gave 

 him to meet so large a party of ladies and gentlemen, read 

 the following paper on 



THE BIRDS FREQUENTING THE KENTISH 

 COASTS. 



Ladif.s and Gentlemen,— Having been solicited by our 

 Secretary, Mr. Bottle, to give a reading on the local birds 

 and their nests along the coast, I do so with much pleasure, 

 so far as in my rambles the different species of birds have 

 come under my notice in my shooting excursions along this 

 cliff for the last 28 years that I have been connected with 

 the Dover Museum. 



I have frequently gone along this coast, in search of 

 specimens for our Museums, at all seasons of the year. The 

 Spring time is the most favourable for getting specimens of 

 the rarer species, as they alight a short time before going 

 inland. 



The first bird I call your attention to is the Peregrine 

 Falcon [Falco Petegriuus). This bird is a frequenter of the 

 seaside during the greater part of the year, and may often 

 he seen taking its flight along our cliffs, and not unfre- 

 quently taking a trip inland, to the dread of game pre- 

 servers, who would, if an opportunity occurred, stop his 

 progress. The boldness of this bird makes him a great 

 enemy to keepers, who do their best to destroy them. 

 Many of their young are destroyed in the first year, from 

 the easy way in which they may be found. When the 

 parent birds feed their young the call attracts the attention 

 of anyone who may be near. This leads to the destruction 

 of great numbers, which are taken from the nest or shot. 

 When the liird arrives at maturity it is more cautious, and 

 is not so easily approached. It builds in various parts of 

 our cliff, generally high ; others I have known to nest near 



