418 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



SOME NOTES OF RARE BIRDS FROM KENT 

 AND SUSSEX. 



By N. F. Ticehurst, M.A., M.B.O.U. 



The past twelvemonth has been so remarkable in its pro- 

 duction of rare birds in this district (i. e. S.W. Kent and S.E. 

 Sussex) that it seems well worth while to bring together all the 

 records that I have been able to collect during that time. 



It would seem that the conditions were particularly favourable 

 last autumn for staying the birds on this coast during their 

 migration, and, though I was unable myself to make many 

 observations, I certainly heard the birds passing over at night in 

 apparently greater numbers than usual. Wagtails, both Yellow 

 and Blue-headed, as well as the Pied, lingered longer than usual, 

 and several Pied Flycatchers and Black Redstarts were observed. 

 Of the waders, certainly more than the usual numbers of Little 

 Stints, Curlew-Sandpipers, Knots, Reeves, and Dotterel — all 

 rather rare birds on this coast — were seen and obtained. 



In the following list will be noticed the occurrence in this 

 district of no fewer than three species for the first time in this 

 country, viz. the White-spotted Bluethroat, the Black-headed 

 Wagtail, and the Black-winged Pratincole. For the majority of 

 the specimens I am indebted to Mr. Bristow, the well-known 

 taxidermist of St. Leonards-on-Sea, for permission to examine 

 and record them. Where they have been previously recorded, I 

 have given the reference, so that there may be no confusion if 

 any future workers want to make use of the records. 



AugustSth, 1902. — Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus aquaticus), 

 male, shot on the military canal at Winchelsea. 



llth. — A female shot at the same place. This pair, the fifth 

 and sixth examples that have been recorded in this country, were 

 exhibited at the British Ornithologists' Club on Oct. 22nd, 1902, 

 bv T. L. Bonhote, Esq. (vide Bull. B. 0. C. xci.). 



