A HISTORY OF KENT but not on half such a big scale. In the collection of Mr. Prentis there is a cream- coloured variety. Such specimens, as well as albinisms, occur occasionally. 86. Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus (Linn.) A visitor of rare occurrence. In the Maid- stone Museum there is a specimen obtained in the neighbourhood in 1863. In 1889 Mr. Hammond of St. Alban's Court obtained a fine adult specimen near Godmersham ; it is now in his collection. In the summer of 1889 another specimen was obtained at God- mersham and examined in the flesh by Mr. Gordon of the Dover Museum (Z«fl/. 1889, p. 185). On 14 May 1901 an adult male was shot near Appledore and is now in my collection. In the collection of Mr. Prentis there is a specimen obtained at Wye. 87. Chough. Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn.) In his History of Sandwich Dr. Boys men- tions the chough in his list of Kent birds. It was many years ago a resident in Sussex, and therefore it is not unlikely it was also found in those days in Kent inhabiting probably the Dover cliffs. It is a curious thing, but in the arms of the see of Canterbury three choughs are shown. When the late Archbishop Benson came from Cornwall he said that he had come from the home of the chough to find the bird engraved on his coat-of-arms at Canterbury. 88. Nutcracker. Nucifragacaryocatactes (Linn.) A visitor of rare occurrence. There are two records : one, Kent (Latham, Synopsis, i. 400, 1781); one near Eddington, Kent, 17 November 1885 {Zoo/. 1885, p. 480). 89. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.) This bird is still plentiful throughout the county, but not so abundant as it used to be, for where game is preserved the woods are searched by the keepers in a most systematic manner, and as soon as the young are hatched they and the parent birds are killed. Partial migrations occur in autumn, and the number of home-bred birds are augmented by foreigners during the winter months. 90. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli) A resident, less numerous than formerly. The remarks on the jay apply equally to this species. 91. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. Locally, Daw. A resident, but locally distributed. It may frequently be found nesting in holes in trees close to rookeries. The jackdaws return to their nesting localities early in March, the majority not remaining with us throughout the winter. A remarkable instance of the sagacity of this species occurred near Cran- brook in 1895. A pair had a nest and the eggs were taken. The birds deserted the nest-hole and straightway took to another tree about 500 yards distant. In this the two remaining eggs were laid. These were smeared all over with a thick coating of mud, which made it difficult to detect them in the nest. 92. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn. Seldom, if ever, met with now. 93. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone, Linn. A resident, but getting scarcer every year. Owing to the more thorough system of farm- ing nowadays, which restricts the food of this species, and persecution by gamekeepers, it seldom breeds now in our woods. In May 1894 I found a nest in the Bedgebury woods near Cranbrook. 94. Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix, Linn. Locally, Dun Crow, Saddle-back. A regular winter visitor, arriving on our shores towards the end of October, the majority appearing later — in November. These birds generally remain throughout the winter about our marshes and the vicinity of the coast, but if the weather is severe and rough they pass further inland to more sheltered situations. They roost at night in the woods, and at first streak of dawn wend their way to the marshes, where they remain till dusk. They delight in ' sprat ' fields, where they gorge themselves on the manure. At the beginning of April the migration northward is resumed. Small parties appear occasionally in winter in the Weald, but not often. Over the wooded districts they fly high and seldom stop by the way. 95. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. An abundant resident, increasing annually. In the Cranbrook district the nests have over- flowed into the woods greatly to the dismay of the keepers. In August the rooks leave their nest-trees and migrate with their young to the vicinity of the sea-coast, a few returning again in October, the majority at the end of January, when the large rookeries present sometimes wonderful spectacles of animation. The following is from my diary: 'Feb. 10 1899. I saw a wonderful sight this evening. While passing Hemstead, the group of trees 284
