BIRDS in the hollow below the house presented an extraordinary appearance. Above them in the air, circled backwards and forwards myriads of rooks, all "cawing," and so much in unison that it sounded like the sound of the incoming tide. This was about 6 o'clock. Only now and again this even sound would be broken by the higher pitched voices of the jackdaws. A large rookery exists in these trees and is of many years' standing.' 96. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn. A well known resident. In September a congregating movement takes place and the birds frequent the newly-cut stubble fields in flocks. Towards the fall of the year our numbers are augmented by ' foreigners,' who frequent our hop gardens, picking up a liveli- hood among the manure heaps put out by the farmer. When there is a thick fall of snow they disappear, but come back again as soon as the weather becomes open. 97. Wood-Lark. Alauda arhorea, Linn. By no means a common bird, and locally distributed during the breeding season in the woods of the Weald. I have found the nest occasionally in the woods near Cranbrook. In the Rainham district it is met with in winter (Prentis) ; and about Stourmouth it has been seen at the same season in small flocks (Dowker). 98. White-winged Lark. Alauda sibirica, J. F. Gmelin. A very rare visitor. On 27 January 1902 a male specimen was obtained at Woodchurch by a man named Ward, and another, a female, the following day. A third individual was seen and obtained later, on 22 March. Two examples were exhibited on 19 Feb- ruary at the British Ornithologists' Club by Mr. N. F. Ticehurst. These are the first records of this bird for Kent, while only one previous example is known from the British Isles, viz. a bird caught alive on 22 November 1869, near Brighton, and ex- hibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London. 99. Shore-Lark. Otocorys alpestris (Linn.) An irregular winter visitor. In February 1 86 1 five specimens were shot in the neighbourhood of Sheerness {Zool. 186 1, p. J jog). There are a pair from Lydd in the Plomley collection, Dover Museum, and according to Mr. Gray, the curator, it not unfrequently occurs at Dover. In the col- lection of Mr. Prentis there are two speci- mens obtained in the Rainham district in 1880 and 1889. 100. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.) A well distributed summer visitor. Fond of breeding in the cowls of our oast-houses and in our church towers. When on mi- gration they make no stay in the vicinity of our coast line, as the swallows do. lOi. Alpine Swift. Cypselus melba (Linn.) A rare visitor. On 20 August 1830 one was obtained at Dover (Notebook of a Naturalist, p. 226). In June 1 87 1 another was seen in Kent and reported in the Zoologist, 1876, p. 5046 (Gurney). 102. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europaus, Linn. Locally, Night-hawk, Evejar. Of local distribution, but plentiful in the woods of the Weald, where it breeds in large colonies, especially where there is water and an undergrowth of bracken. It arrives in the county about the middle of May and leaves early in September. Nestlings of this species are frequently found late in autumn. One was taken near Sissinghurst on 10 August. 103. Wryneck, lynx torquilla, Linn. Locally, Snake Bird. A regular spring migrant. Well distributed in the wooded districts, and where there are orchards and pollard trees. 104. Green Woodpecker. Geclnus vlrldis (Linn.) Locally, Galley-bird. Locally distributed in the wooded districts. More numerous in winter than in summer. In some districts it has largely increased, while in others, where it was formerly com- mon, it has decreased. This is the case in the Cranbrook district, and I attribute it to the great increase of starlings within the last few years, which invade our woods and take possession of the nest-holes bored by the green woodpecker. The plagues of the small oak- green caterpillar and other arboreal insects, experienced within the last few years, have caused large numbers of starlings to breed in the woods. These birds are not slow to take advantage of the old homes of the wood- peckers ; and they even engage in pitched battles with them over their newly-made holes. It is not unusual to find this wood- pecker resorting to the same nest-site of the previous year. In this instance the old hole is deepened. The drilling of a new one is accomplished generally by the tenth day, but the time varies according to the nature of the tree. The process of boring, as a rule, takes place during the small hours of the morning. During the day the hole is left, and not re- 285
