BIRDS 



76. Crossbill. Lox'ia curvifostra, Linn. 



A spring and autumn visitant of irregular 

 occurrence, remaining frequently for some 

 weeks in the favoured locality. In Novem- 

 ber 1898 small parties were observed near 

 Cranbrook. Several specimens were obtained 

 and also from the neighbourhood of Hawk- 

 hurst. These parties were noticed from time 

 to time in the locality till late in the following 

 spring. On 27 July 1868 a pair of fine adult 

 birds were seen by Mr. Oxenden Hammond 

 at Wingham. There is not a doubt that this 

 crossbill breeds occasionally in Kent, and there 

 is an instance on record (Harting, Handbook 

 Brit. Birds, 1 901, p. 89) ; at the best how- 

 ever the nesting of this species in Kent can 

 only be regarded as of very exceptional occur- 

 rence. There are not enough pines and fir 

 woods in this county to attract this species. 

 In the Maidstone Museum there is a young 

 crossbill which was killed by a boy with a 

 stone on the Loose Road near Maidstone on 

 25 May 1899. 



77. The Two-barred Crossbill. Loxia bijas- 



ciata (C. L. Brehm) 

 On 26 December 1902 a female specimen 

 of this rare wanderer was shot by Mr. H. 

 Dale on Cold Blow farm, Woodchurch, and 

 was exhibited by Mr. N. F. Ticehurst at the 

 British Ornithologists' Club on 18 February 

 1903. The bird is now in my collection. 

 This is the first recorded occurrence for Kent. 



78. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria, L\nn^ 

 Locally, Bunting Lark. 



A resident, but distributed sparingly on the 

 low ground near the coast, frequenting the 

 clover and pea fields, where it breeds. The 

 bird is decidedly uncommon in the interior of 

 the county. I have found nests near Lydd. 

 Towards the end of September a migration 

 movement takes place, and then these bunt- 

 ings may be found consorting with flocks of 

 linnets near the shore-line. Very few stay 

 with us throughout the winter. 



79. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella, 



Linn. 

 A common resident. Congregates in 

 winter on the stubble fields. 



80. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. 



A resident but of local distribution. Mr. 

 Prentis writes : ' There is only one patch 

 in my district where the cirl bunting is to 

 be found. I once found a nest containing 

 eggs in an old dried-up decoy pond ; it was 

 built on the ground amongst the dead stems of 



the reeds. This bird is sometimes taken by 

 the bird-catchers in winter.' 



81. Ortolan. Emberiza hortulana, h'mn. 

 This is one of those birds whose occurrence 



must be looked upon with a certain amount 

 of suspicion, since numbers are annually 

 imported from the continent and escapes are 

 notorious. There is however a genuine 

 example in the collection of Mr. Prentis 

 obtained in 1874 near Dover and preserved 

 by Mr. Charles Gordon of the Dover 

 Museum. This bunting is an irregular spring 

 and autumn visitor. 



82. Reed-Bunting. Emberiza schceniclus, h'mn. 

 A well distributed resident in the vicinity 



of the coast, breeding in the osiers and sedges 

 of our marsh land. At the end of August 

 migration takes place and large flocks people 

 the reed beds and dykes on the south coast 

 till the end of September. In winter it is 

 distributed sparingly. Its numbers in the 

 interior of the county at that season have 

 increased very much of late owing to the 

 increase of young larch plantations, which 

 these birds seem fond of haunting. 



83. Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis 



(Linn.) 

 A cold weather visitor of uncertain occur- 

 rence on our shore-line. Small flocks, chiefly 

 immature birds, appear in November and 

 December. They are often to be found in 

 company with larks on the stubble fields close 

 to the shore. 



84. Lapland Bunting. Calcarius lapponicus 



(Linn.) 

 A rare visitor in autumn and winter on 

 our coast. In Mr. Oxenden Hammond's 

 collection there is a specimen obtained near 

 Wingham in November 1882. I have also 

 examined two specimens in Mr. Prentis' col- 

 lection, killed near Dover in 1872 and 1890 

 respectively. In the latter specimen there is 

 a considerable amount of black on the chest, 

 while the breast is whitish. 



85. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. 

 Locally, Stare. 



An abundant resident. A migration move- 

 ment takes place in autumn, when throughout 

 September enormous flocks frequent our 

 marsh land both on the north and south coast 

 prior to leaving the county, the direction 

 generally taken being to the south-westward. 

 During severe droughts our currant and rasp- 

 berry bushes are attacked by this bird. In 

 early spring a return migration takes place, 



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