A HISTORY OF KENT In spring, migrants arrive on the south coast ; some to stay, others to pass over the county on their w^ay northward to breed. In autumn the return migration begins, and the birds, which have bred in the north, make their way to the south-east portion of the county, about Dungeness, where the crossing to the continent is shortest. About the same time a migrational movement from the south-west to this same point also takes place. The immigrations of the birds to the county from northern Europe and the continent during autumn and winter are few. Kent lies too far south to catch the movement that extends at those seasons across the North Sea to our east coasts. The local museums are the Folkestone, Margate, Canterbury, Maid- stone and Dover collections. Those of the first three places are in poor condition and records are for the most part lost. In the last named there is the Plomley collection, containing many species obtained by Dr. Plomley from Lydd and Romney Marsh. The private collections I have referred to in my ' History of Kent Birds ' are those of the late Mr. Walter Prentis (now at Rochester) of Mr. Oxenden Hammond of St. Alban's Court, Nonington ; and of the Rev. Benjamin Austen of Walmer. These contain many rare species, principally obtained from the northern portions of the county. Lastly, my own collection, consisting chiefly of birds from the Weald and the south coast. In this article I have only given records which I have been able to authenticate. I have omitted a few, elsewhere recorded, which are not in my opinion satisfactory. My best thanks are due to Mr. Meade- Waldo for his assistance in correcting my proofs. I have referred to the following works : — Yairell's History of British Birds (ed. 4, 1885 Newton & Saunders) Manual of British Birds, Howard Saunders (1898) Handbook of British Birds, Harting (1901) Boys' History of Sandwich (List) List of Folkestone Birds (Henry UUyett) 77;!^ Zoologist, 1 840-1 90 1 The Birds of Rainham, Walter Prentis (i 894) The author's own notes, 1 887-1 900 The author's articles in The Kentish Express, August 1899, to June 1 900 I. Missel-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. tember a migration southward may be noticed Locally, Missel-bird, Screech. ^.'"^S '"^"f °{ °"^. home-bred birds, but these partial migrations depend to a great The missel - thrush is well distributed extent upon the supply of food. Should the throughout the wooded portions of the yews in October yield a good store of berries, county and among our orchards. In the numbers of birds will remain in the locality to breeding season the number of nests in one devour them. During a severe winter large locality is sometimes considerable, as many batches of foreigners appear in the county, to as five or six being found close together. leave again however in the following spring. This plentiful distribution invariably occurs In the severe winter of 1890 a great influx took after a mild winter, when no severe weather place, and these foreigners were invariably the has come to decimate the ranks of our home- first to succumb to the cold weather. Owing bred birds. About the end of July migra- probably to severe privations the plumage of tion commences, the flocks consisting mainly these birds was paler in colour than that of of young birds. Towards the end of Sep- our residents. 270
