%l THE tfOOLOGltSt. 



The Stone Curlew in Kent. — A few years ago the Stone Curlew, or 

 Thick-knee, (Edicnemus crepitans, was comparatively common on the great 

 shingle wastes in Kent. Now, by reason of railway extension and the 

 consequent opening out of formerly lonely districts, it is virtually extinct. 

 An odd pair or so still lay their eggs on the shingle ; but during the last 

 five years I have not known a single pair to elude the grasp of the 'long- 

 shoreman or loafer. This bird is locally known as the " Nighthawk," from 

 its well-known nocturnal habits. The Thick-knee usually lays its eggs on 

 the fine shingle close to the edge of some dead patch of gorse or broom, 

 but rarely or never on the earth or grass adjacent. The fishermen and 

 others declare that these birds have a habit of rolling one egg away when 

 they leave their nest, so that, in the event of one egg being discovered, the 

 other may possibly escape. I have never seen this operation performed, 

 but have found the eggs some distance apart. It is a matter of great 

 regret that these interesting birds should be thus hurried out of existence 

 iu Kent. — Willoughby Verner (Capt. Eifle Brigade). 



The Kentish Plover. — This bird, like the Stone Curlew, or Thick- 

 knee, is being rapidly exterminated in the county from which it derives its 

 name, by collectors and so-called " naturalists," who, with walking-stick 

 guns, in and out of season, destroy all they can approach. These gentry 

 do more harm even than they imagine, for I have come across many 

 small plovers and other birds which have been ineffectually " peppered," 

 and have gone away to die. Still oftener I have found nests of the Ringed 

 and Kentish Plovers which have been trampled on by these uncouth 

 marauders in their clumsy and ever eager attempts to " annex " everything 

 they can in the least possible time. — Willoughby Verner. 



[Why is not the " Wild Birds Protection Act "put in force? Pro- 

 tectionists were very clamorous to get this Act passed, and now that the 

 Legislature has acceded to their demands they take no steps to see it 

 enforced. — Ed.] 



Late appearance of Hirundinidse in North Norfolk. — The Swallows, 

 Martins, and Sand Martins that pass the summer in this neighbourhood 

 seemed to leave about their regular dates, but there was an unusual re- 

 appearance of all three species during the month of November, 1891. Mr. 

 Alexander Napier, of Holkham, gives me the following records observed by 

 himself; — Nov. 10th, two Swallows, near Wells. Nov. 11th, two Swallows, 

 Holkham village. Nov. 17th, a single Swallow, Holkham village ; and on 

 Nov. 19th, several Martins in the same place. Mr. Henry Lee Warner 

 observed both Martins and Sand Martins about the sheltered grounds of 

 Walsingham Abbey on Nov. 13th, about twenty of each species; the 

 Sand Martins remained till Nov. 18th, and the Martins till Nov. ^Oth. 

 On Nov. 14th I observed 6ome twenty Martins circling over the village of 



