BIRDS I have observed individuals along the dykes of has even nested in Chatham Dockyard [Zool. our marsh land and running streams in the Weald. I have searched in vain for the nest of this species in many portions of Kent and have carefully watched the birds, but they never remained for any length of time in one locality. In 1896, near Rye, I flushed a pair along one of the marshland dykes as late as 30 May. I was in hopes of finding a nest, but the birds disappeared a few days later. 222. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin) This species, locally known as 'autumn snipe,' is of very irregular occurrence, and during the autumn one or two stragglers are the most that appear along the dykes of our marsh land. Its migration seems to touch our coast but slightly, and then the bird resorts to sheltered ditches whose banks are bordered with mud and rushes in preference to the exposed shore line. 223. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.) From the middle of July to the beginning of October small parties of this species come and go in the vicinity of our marsh land ; yet individuals may be observed at practi- cally all seasons of the year about our ponds in the county. These birds on migration fly at a considerable altitude, pitching al- most vertically down to their feeding grounds, where towards sunset they become very noisy with their sharp ' wheet-wheet, wheet- wheet ' cries. Sheltered ditches are favourable resorts. There is no positive evidence of this bird breeding in the county, although in i860 a pair remained about the Rainham marshes throughout the summer (Prentis, Birds of Rainham, p. 60). I have never observed this species in the county in spring. In the Maid- stone Museum are three specimens obtained at Linton. 224. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.) Locally, Red-leg, Tooke. A well distinguished resident outside the Weald, resorting to our marsh land to breed and then to the mud-flats in autumn. Owing to drainage and cultivation its numbers have considerably diminished of late years, and it is also persecuted by the country people, who take the eggs for eating. The principal breeding localities are Romney Marsh and the Lydd beach. In the north of the county it is less plentiful, but breeds in the Rainham and Stour marshes : on the low-lying ground about the Medway between Chatham and Sheerness, and in the Wingham marshes. It i»8t), p. 332}. Redshanks pair about the middle of April, and at this time are con- stantly on the move uttering their wild and pleasing cries throughout the day and also at night. About the end of July they begin to flock and are then difficult to approach ; they leave towards the end of September. 225. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus {hmn.) A scarce autumn migrant. It has been obtained on the Medway 20 October 1882 (Prentis) ; on the river Stour (9 September Zool. 1889, p. 435, Dowker) ; and at Dover and Lydd (Plomley collection). Lastly, I have a pair of fine adult birds, killed near Lydd on 12 September 1899. Totanus canescens (J. F. 226. Greenshank. Gmelin) Towards the end of August small parties of immature birds put in an appearance on our north and south coasts, but on the spring migration it is seldom met with. 227. Bar-tailed Godwit. Lintosa lapponica (Linn.) Locally, Petsel. A common migrant in spring and autumn to the mud-flats and sandy portions of our shore line, being seldom observed in spring on the north coast. Adults in the red breeding plumage are scarce. Throughout May small parties break their passage on the south coast, but nearly all these are still in their winter dress. In the beginning of September flocks of immature birds, numbering sometimes over thirty, appear on the mud-flats and marsh land near the coast, and are very often to be found in company with curlews. 228. Black-Tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin) A scarce migrant in spring and autumn, occasionally in winter. In January 1 88 1 several immature birds were seen on the Medway and one was shot. On 20 October 1882 another was obtained (Prentis). On 21 August 1896 an immature bird was shot on the Lydd beach, and two more (a pair) on 20 September {Zool. 1896, pp. 411, 413). These specimens are in my collection. 229. Common Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.) Towards the end of August the curlew comes to the mud-flats on our north coast and to the Lydd beach on the south. In the latter locality I have seen flocks numbering over 200 birds. In the early morning these flocks repair to the neighbouring grass fields 297 38
