BIRDS attracted my attention by its loud call. The specimen is in good condition having com- pleted its moult. It is a male.' This speci- men is now in the Dover Museum. In 1890, about the middle of November, a second specimen was caught by a bird-catcher near Dover and is now in the collection of Mr. Oxenden Hammond. 51. Rock-Pipit. Anthus obscurus (Latham) An uncommon visitor in spring and autumn. On the south coast between Rye and Dungeness, individuals, all adults, may be noticed at the beginning of October. In the Rainham district, Mr. Prentis says: 'It is common in winter along the shores of our creeks, it does not occur in summer time.' In the same paragraph Mr. Prentis records an observation of the Scandinavian form of the rock-pipit {A. rupestris) : ' On a rough day in March, the wind blowing for several days from the east, the marsh was full of rock pipits. I observed a strange looking variety with a reddish - brown breast, its note on being disturbed was very different from that of the rock pipits.' Booth says : ' The rock pipit used to arrive in Sussex in considerable numbers from March to April, though it never remained to breed.' 52. Golden Oriole. Oriolus galbula, Linn. A summer migrant. There is not a doubt that this beautiful bird would become an annual breeder in the county provided it was protected from molestation, but unfortunately its bright plumage catches the eye of the greedy gunner, into whose hands, nine cases out of ten, it falls an easy victim. This bird has nested on four occasions in the county. In June 1836 a pair reared their young in an ash plantation near Ord. The young were taken every care of, but did not long survive their captivity. In May 1 849 a nest with three eggs, together with the parent birds, were taken near Elmstone. The nest was suspended from the extreme end of a top branch of an oak tree and composed entirely of wool, carefully bound together with dried grass. Both the old birds and the nest are in the Dover Museum. In 1 85 1 another nest and eggs were taken at West Mill near Wingham, Kent (Harting, Handbook Brit. Birds, 1 90 1, p. 36). In June 1874 another pair nested in Dumpton Park, Isle of Thanet, and owing to the pro- tection afforded them by Mr. Bankes Tomlin they reared their young in safety. Mr. Harting saw the nest, and gives an interesting description of it in his Summer Migrants, p. 268. The following further specimens have been recorded from the county : One, June 1850, near Elmstone {Zool. 1850, p. 2851); one, 14 June, 1853, Eltham {Zool. 1853, P- 4014) ; one (female), autumn 1868, Faver- sham {Zool. 1869); one (female), June 1869, Southfield Park, Tunbridge Wells. In the collection of Mr. Hammond there is a pair, obtained near Wingham. Of late years my records are : Adult male, adult female, 1883, near Dover (Prentis collection) ; adult male. May 1893, Sissinghurst {Zool. 1896, p. 346); adult female, 15 May 1896, High Halden {Zool. 1896, p. 346); another seen June 1896, Sissinghurst {Zool. 1896, p. 346) From these records it will be readily seen that there would be little or no difficulty in inducing the golden oriole to become a regular summer resident, provided it were carefully protected from persecution. These orioles come over in pairs with full intention of nesting. The males are the ones that are generally shot, while the females, owing to their less brilliant plumage, escape observation more easily. However, at the present time the bird can only be regarded as a visitor that comes to our shores in danger of its life. 53. Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, Linn. An irregular autumn and winter visitor, generally met with outside the wooded dis- tricts. There is no record of ita ever having bred in the county, although I have obtained specimens from the neighbourhood of East- well as late as March. In the Cranbrook district it has been observed by Mr. Springett, who told me that on one occasion, while out rabbiting, he saw a band of tits all collected together in the thick undergrowth, and one and all making a great uproar. They were being driven forward by a great grey shrike, who was endeavouring to force them to debouch into an open) field hard by. The little birds got so confused after a time that many left their thick retreat, and consequently one of their number fell a victim. 54. Lesser Grey Shrike. Laninus minor, J. F. Gmelin. A rare visitor in spring and autumn. An individual was observed on 15 May 1897, in mid Kent by Mr. F. W. Frohawk {Zool. 1897, p. 427)- 55. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio,hinn. Locally, Butcher Bird. A local summer migrant, arriving in the county at the end of April. More plentiful in the wooded portions, in which it has 279
