A HISTORY OF KENT 



iioitre every corner of the wood with an eye bine of the hop plant. During winter the 



to clioosing a nest site, the wiiole time utter- linnet is sparsely distributed throughout the 



ing their metallic call-notes. county. 



65. Goldfinch. Carduclis elegans, Stephens. 

 A resident, but of local distribution. A 



few years ago it was decreasing rapidly, but 

 now, owing to the Wild Birds Protection 

 Act and the increase of plantations, which 

 foster the growth of thistles, this charming 

 little bird has once more rallied and is again 

 numerous in the favoured localities. From 

 October onwards small flocks may con- 

 stantly be observed where there is thistle- 

 growth and rough herbage. 



66. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.) 



A winter visitor, coming to us in small 

 flocks wherever there is alder and hornbeam, 

 of the seeds of which this bird is very fond. 

 It generally appears in November in company 

 with the lesser redpoll, but its appearance is 

 irregular. 



67. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus {hinn.) 

 An abundant resident. 



68. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.) 

 A winter visitor, and as a rule by no means 



common. It comes in small parties in Octo- 

 ber. I have never found it breeding in Kent. 

 The specimens on record have all been taken 

 in the northern portion of the county, 



69. ChaflRnch. FrlngUla caskbs, Linn. 



A well distributed resident, its numbers 

 remaining constant throughout the year. 

 In October a congregating movement is 

 noticed, the flocks frequenting our stubble 

 fields ; the sexes then usually keeping apart, 

 although I have sometimes observed them 

 together. 



70. Brambling. Fringilla mont'ifringilla, Linn. 

 An occasional visitor in winter, especially 



in severe weather. It sometimes remains 

 with us as late as March. I have seldom met 

 with this species. In the beech districts it is 

 abundant in good beechmast years. 



71. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.) 



A well distributed resident throughout the 

 county. At the end of August linnets resort 

 in large flocks to our fallow fields, especially 

 where charlock grows. Towards the end of 

 September our inland localities are deserted 

 for the vicinity of the south coast, where large 

 flocks congregate close to the beach, remain- 

 ing there till their moult is completed before 

 resuming their migration southward. In 

 Kent the nest is frequently built in the upper 



72. Mealy Redpoll. Linota llnaria (Linn.) 

 An irregular winter visitor. In November 



1895 large flocks appeared on the hills near 

 Dover. Numbers fell victims to the bird- 

 catchers. On 28 September 1899 I obtained 

 a specimen near Lydd out of a flock of 

 linnets. 



73. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot) 

 A winter visitor chiefly, some years more 



plentiful than in others. As a breeding 

 species it is very local. The nest has been 

 taken near Tunbridge Wells, 18 May 1863 

 (Wharton, Zool p. 8951). On 6 June 1895 

 I found a nest near Cranbrook. It was 

 placed in the upper branches of a small thick 

 hazel 'tot' in a copse. A nest containing 

 five eggs was taken in the cemetery at Maid- 

 stone in May 1898. It is now in the 

 museum of that town. Towards the end of 

 December this species is most in evidence, 

 frequenting our woods in small flocks, 

 especially where the silver birch and horn- 

 beam grow. In the Cranbrook district a 

 great many of these trees within the last two 

 years have been planted and the flocks of 

 redpolls have increased. I am convinced 

 that this species will become a regular breeder 

 before long in the Weald. 



74. Twite. Linota /avirostris (L'mn.) 

 Occurs in winter in the vicinity of the 



shore-line. It is a regular visitor to our 

 marshes, appearing about the beginning of 

 October and feeding chiefly upon the seeds 

 of the marsh plants which are covered at the 

 spring tides. In November I have seen small 

 parties in company with linnets frequenting 

 the long ' spiky ' grass on the sand dunes near 

 Rye harbour. Mr. Bristow of St. Leonards has 

 specimens frequently from the Sussex coast. 



75. Bullfinch. Pyrrhu/a europaa, VieiWot. 



A well known resident, more numerous 

 than formerly. Three years ago its ranks 

 were decidedly thinned owing to the existence 

 of sparrow-clubs, which are not so much in 

 fashion now. In 1895 the sparrow-club at 

 Sissinghurst gave as much as 31/. per head for 

 every bullfinch taken. During that summer 

 one lad alone sent up ninety-seven heads. 

 Throughout the winter the bullfinches resort 

 in small parties, chiefly consisting of females, 

 to our woods and copses, coming to the 

 orchards in spring. 



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