58 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



adjoining some plantations, is a spot peculiarly 

 adapted for the Bittern, and where they have been 

 met with and shot upon at least four occasions ; 

 others also have occurred in the district. 



SPOONBILL.- 

 Platalea leucorodia, Linn. 



A fine adult Spoonbill, with a buff collar and 

 pendant crest, was shot on the Isle of Elmley, April 

 1 2th 1865. Immature specimens have been met with 

 on three occasions on the marshes near the river 

 Medway. 



BLACK STORK. 

 Ciconia nigra (Linn.). 



In July 1884 a Black Stork was seen to visit an 

 island marsh ; the water in the ditches after some 

 very dry weather became nearly dried up, leaving 

 only a few puddles in places where the eels had 

 collected ; a trap was set by the shepherd, who 

 instead of catching an eel caught the Black Stork, 

 and nothing would do but that he must eat it. On 

 July 24th, myself and Mr. Chas. Gordon, of the 

 Dover Museum happened to be walking along a 

 creek and when opposite the Shepherd's house we 

 picked up the remains of a Black Stork, after it had 

 floated backwards and forwards with the tide for 

 some days, it was in a very mutilated condition, but 



