BIRDS 



1884 a party of four appeared in Romncy 

 Marsh. One of these was shot (Thomas 

 Parkin, Zool. 1884, p. 469). Another ex- 

 ample, obtained near Cranbrook in March 

 1893 and now in my collection, was pre- 

 served by Mr. Springett of Cranbrook. 



158. Mallard or Wild Duck. Ajias hoicas, 



Linn. 

 A resident, breeding in our marshes. In 

 severe winters the inland ponds and streams 

 are visited by migrants. Many are kept in 

 semi-captivity on the large estates in the 

 county. In February 1889 an albino speci- 

 men was obtained at Stourmouth, and on 10 

 January 1900 Mr. Springett of Cranbrook 

 received from Sandhurst, Kent, a hybrid be- 

 between this species and the pintail duck. 



159. Gadwall. Anas strepera^ Linn. 

 Locally, Bastard. 



A rare winter visitor to Kent. On 22 

 February 1845 an adult male was shot in 

 Romney Marsh {Zool. p. 1025). It has also 

 occurred at Sandwich (Boys' List). In De- 

 cember 1896 an adult female was obtained 

 near the Fleet Pond, Rye, and is now in my 

 collection. 



160. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.) 

 Locally, Spoonbill. 



Scarce and generally observed in winter. 

 In the Maidstone Museum there are a pair of 

 shovelers from Gillingham, and in the Plom- 

 ley collection two male birds from Lydd. 

 This duck has lately been discovered breed- 

 ing in Romney Marsh (Ticehurst, Zool. 1900, 

 p. 279). Yarrell stated that this locality was 

 formerly a breeding haunt. 



161. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.) 



A regular winter visitor. During a severe 

 winter it is met with in considerable numbers 

 near Lydd and on the salt marshes about the 

 Medway. 



162. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.) 



Found in winter on our marshes, but in- 

 land it is less numerous. I have only three 

 records from the Cranbrook district. It 

 occurs every year on the Eden, and some 

 pairs breed annually about the ponds and 

 petts on the Sussex border. At the end of 

 September small ' bunches ' of teal in com- 

 pany with wigeon arrive on the sheltered 

 ponds that lie back from our shore line. 



163. Garganey. ^erquedula circia (Linn.) 

 A rare spring migrant. In May 1900 



two nests of this species were found in Rom- 



ney Marsh by Mr. N. F. Ticehurst of St. 

 Leonards [Zool. 1900, p. 279). In the 

 Plomley collection there are three speci- 

 mens obtained from Lydd in March 1840. 

 There is another from the same locality in 

 the house of Mr. Southerden, Jury's Gap, 

 Lydd. Mr. Southerden tells me that ten 

 years ago this duck came regularly to the 

 Lydd' beach every spring. There is hardly 

 any doubt that it bred in the neighbourhood 

 in those times, as it has been found to do so 



1 64. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.) 

 Locally, Frosted Duck, Cock-winder. 



Common in the vicinity of the coast, but 

 inland its occurrence is unusual. At the end 

 of September individuals, chiefly immature 

 birds, begin to come in to our marsh pools and 

 brackish waters, followed by greater numbers 

 at the fall of the year according to the severity 

 of the weather. 



165. Pochard. Fuligula ferlna (Linn.) 

 Locally, Snuffle-headed Wigeon. 



Only occasionally met with now during 

 hard winters. Formerly this duck was plenti- 

 ful about the Lydd ' petts ' and Romney 

 Marsh. Some ten years ago, when the 

 Southerden brothers carried on a trade in 

 their duck-shooting, the pochard was well 

 represented in their ' bags.' 



166. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata {Lea.ch) 

 Locally, Least Wigeon. 



Found in our creeks and marshes in the 

 winter. Not uncommon. It has been 

 obtained at Sheerness (Maidstone Museum), 

 at Rainham (Prentis), Stourmouth (Dowker) 

 and Lydd (Plomley). 



167. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.) 

 Locally, Sea-Wigeon. 



Met with in winter on our salt marshes 

 and at the mouths of our estuaries. It has 

 been obtained at Stourmouth (Dowker), on 

 the Lower and Upper Medway (Meade 

 Waldo), and at Farleigh (Maidstone Museum), 

 also at Rainham (Prentis). 



168. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.) 

 Locally, Spectacle Duck. 



By no means common. Young birds and 

 adult females are sometimes obtained in 

 winter on inland ponds and sheltered por- 

 tions of our rivers. I have two adult females 

 in my collection — one shot at Sittingbourne 

 by Captain Moore, R.N., in March 1894; 

 and the other from Biddenden 30 November 



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