THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 61 



in great numbers, even right out on the open beach. July 20th. 

 Found a nest with two eggs in it, and was told of one being found the 

 previous week containing eight eggs. 



Nightjar (Gaprimulgus earopceus). — May 14th. Disturbed one from 

 under the shelter of a stack of brushwood close under the sea-wall. It 

 flew a short distance, and then settled in the grass. When I flushed 

 it a second time it flew away out of sight. 



Common Heron (Ardea cinerea). — There are nearly always some of 

 these birds feeding along the sands at low tide. 



Wild Duck (Anas boscas). — Breeds in numbers along the dykes and 

 sewers, and also out on the beach among the stunted sloe and broom 

 bushes. July 16th-21st. Considerable numbers of young birds on 

 some of the inland patches of water. 



Eing-Dove (Columba palumbus). — Often a few Wood-Pigeons feeding 

 out on the patches of grass-land scattered about the beach. 



Stock-Dove (C. anas). — Always a few of these birds about the beach 

 feeding on the green places. May 14th. I noticed one of these birds fly 

 up from a rabbit's burrow. Upon investigating I found its rough nest 

 and two young birds down the burrow. 



Partridge (Perdix cinerea). — A good many about on the beach. 



Red-legged Partridge (Caccabis rufa). — May 13th. Found a nest 

 of this species built on the bank of one of the big sewers which drain 

 the marsh-land. Also saw several of the birds out on the beach. 



Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus). — Moor-hens' nests are very numer- 

 ous in the dykes and pools of water on the marsh -land. In no cases 

 were the eggs in any of the nests that I found covered over with 

 leaves. 



Coot (Fulica atra). — May 13th. Found two nests in the reeds sur- 

 rounding a pool of water on the marsh ; two eggs in one, and eight 

 eggs in the other. In both instances the eggs were quite fresh. 



Stone Curlew (CEdicnemus scolopax). — Local name, " Night-Hawk." 

 Several pairs of these birds still breed on the beach, but they are by 

 no means common, and all the coastguards' and fishermen's sons know 

 that the two eggs have a marketable value. May 14th. I saw one of 

 the birds fly up from the beach, and, on looking along the ridge from 

 about which it flew, I found its two eggs lying on the shingle. The 

 apology of a nest in which they lay was simply a hollow scratched out 

 in the shingle, measuring about 7 in. in diameter and f in. deep. The 

 two eggs were laid fully two inches apart, and end to end. I was told 

 by a fisherman that they are never laid close together. Surrounding 

 the hollow were several pieces of broom, which had the appearance of 

 having been put there by the bird. One egg was rather larger than 



