A HISTORY OF KENT iioitre every corner of the wood with an eye bine of the hop plant. During winter the to clioosing a nest site, the wiiole time utter- linnet is sparsely distributed throughout the ing their metallic call-notes. county. 65. Goldfinch. Carduclis elegans, Stephens. A resident, but of local distribution. A few years ago it was decreasing rapidly, but now, owing to the Wild Birds Protection Act and the increase of plantations, which foster the growth of thistles, this charming little bird has once more rallied and is again numerous in the favoured localities. From October onwards small flocks may con- stantly be observed where there is thistle- growth and rough herbage. 66. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.) A winter visitor, coming to us in small flocks wherever there is alder and hornbeam, of the seeds of which this bird is very fond. It generally appears in November in company with the lesser redpoll, but its appearance is irregular. 67. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus {hinn.) An abundant resident. 68. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.) A winter visitor, and as a rule by no means common. It comes in small parties in Octo- ber. I have never found it breeding in Kent. The specimens on record have all been taken in the northern portion of the county, 69. ChaflRnch. FrlngUla caskbs, Linn. A well distributed resident, its numbers remaining constant throughout the year. In October a congregating movement is noticed, the flocks frequenting our stubble fields ; the sexes then usually keeping apart, although I have sometimes observed them together. 70. Brambling. Fringilla mont'ifringilla, Linn. An occasional visitor in winter, especially in severe weather. It sometimes remains with us as late as March. I have seldom met with this species. In the beech districts it is abundant in good beechmast years. 71. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.) A well distributed resident throughout the county. At the end of August linnets resort in large flocks to our fallow fields, especially where charlock grows. Towards the end of September our inland localities are deserted for the vicinity of the south coast, where large flocks congregate close to the beach, remain- ing there till their moult is completed before resuming their migration southward. In Kent the nest is frequently built in the upper 72. Mealy Redpoll. Linota llnaria (Linn.) An irregular winter visitor. In November 1895 large flocks appeared on the hills near Dover. Numbers fell victims to the bird- catchers. On 28 September 1899 I obtained a specimen near Lydd out of a flock of linnets. 73. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot) A winter visitor chiefly, some years more plentiful than in others. As a breeding species it is very local. The nest has been taken near Tunbridge Wells, 18 May 1863 (Wharton, Zool p. 8951). On 6 June 1895 I found a nest near Cranbrook. It was placed in the upper branches of a small thick hazel 'tot' in a copse. A nest containing five eggs was taken in the cemetery at Maid- stone in May 1898. It is now in the museum of that town. Towards the end of December this species is most in evidence, frequenting our woods in small flocks, especially where the silver birch and horn- beam grow. In the Cranbrook district a great many of these trees within the last two years have been planted and the flocks of redpolls have increased. I am convinced that this species will become a regular breeder before long in the Weald. 74. Twite. Linota /avirostris (L'mn.) Occurs in winter in the vicinity of the shore-line. It is a regular visitor to our marshes, appearing about the beginning of October and feeding chiefly upon the seeds of the marsh plants which are covered at the spring tides. In November I have seen small parties in company with linnets frequenting the long ' spiky ' grass on the sand dunes near Rye harbour. Mr. Bristow of St. Leonards has specimens frequently from the Sussex coast. 75. Bullfinch. Pyrrhu/a europaa, VieiWot. A well known resident, more numerous than formerly. Three years ago its ranks were decidedly thinned owing to the existence of sparrow-clubs, which are not so much in fashion now. In 1895 the sparrow-club at Sissinghurst gave as much as 31/. per head for every bullfinch taken. During that summer one lad alone sent up ninety-seven heads. Throughout the winter the bullfinches resort in small parties, chiefly consisting of females, to our woods and copses, coming to the orchards in spring. 282
