BIRDS and Hemsted. Wild birds have correspond- ingly increased. In many places the woods are so well stocked that little or no rearing will be found necessary in the near future. The typical P. cokhicus is rare. The exist- ing race are descendants from the introduction of the Chinese ring-necked P. torquatus and the Japanese P. versicolor. Hybrids between the latter and Reeve's pheasant have been obtained at Bedgebury, Cranbrook. 182. Common Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Latham. Well distributed both inland and down to the sea coast. It has of late years much in- creased owing to the increase of young planta- tions and the practice of ' driving,' which considerably reduces the number of old cock birds. On all the large estates ' driving ' takes place in December and January. This sport is producing a wilder and more restless trait in the nature of the species. 183. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.) Since ' driving ' was introduced this bird, sometimes known as the ' French partridge,' has decreased. Owing to the habit it has of detaching itself from a covey when being driven, it generally falls a victim to the gun. Its numbers vary yearly, but locally it is com- 184. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. A summer migrant, but seldom met with. In September 1893 ^^ individual was ob- tained near Benenden. This bird used formerly to breed on several farms in the Weald. 185. Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Crex pra- tensis, Bechstein. A summer migrant, breeding sparingly in the county. The bird has been met with as late as December (Prentis). By the end of September the majority have left. 186. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta (Leach) An irregular spring and autumn migrant. Before the drainage of our marshes it bred in the county in the neighbourhood of the Thames. There are two specimens in the Maidstone Museum from Hythe. 187. Baillon's Crake. Porzana bailloni [Ve.- lot) A rare spring and autumn migrant. The late Charles Gordon of the Dover Museum identified a specimen obtained on the Hythe canal in October 1870. 188. Water-Rail. Ra //us aqua ticus, Linn. There is no evidence of this species having bred in Kent. I have never observed it during the summer ; but in winter, especially severe ones, it is frequently met with in December and January. 189. Moor-hen. Ga //inula chi/oropus (Linn.) Locally, Water-hen. A common resident, its numbers in winter being augmented by migrants, especially if the winter is severe, when our sheltered brooks and ponds become favourite havens. 190. Coot. Fu/ica atra, Linn. A resident, but of local distribution. Owing to the drainage of our marshes its breeding localities are now restricted. It breeds on the Hoppen Petts near Romney Marsh, also near Leeds Castle, and on the lake at East- well Park, Ashford. It is rare at Rainham, but it has bred there (Prentis). 191. Great Bustard. Otis tarda, Linn. A rare visitor, and has not occurred of late years. In the Plomley collection there is an adult female, obtained at Lydd on 4 January 1850. In December 1879 one was shot in Romney Marsh {Zoo/. i88o, p. no). In Janu- ary 1880 an adult male was obtained near Wye and an immature female at Great Chart. Both these latter specimens are in the col- lection of the late Mr. Prentis, who kindly allowed me to examine them. In the Maidstone Museum there is a specimen from Romney Marsh (Simmons). In the Canter- bury Museum there is a specimen, probably taken locally. Writing to the Zoologist in 1850 (p. 2700) Dr. Plomley says that, from information obtained during many years of residence in Romney Marsh, the great bustard was formerly not uncommon in that locality. 192. Little Bustard. Otis tetrax, Linn. A rare wanderer, and has occurred less frequently than the last named species. In the Plomley collection there is a pair of little bustards taken many years ago at Lydd, and Mr. Dowker mentions one in the Rev. B. Austen's collection, killed in St. Nicholas marshes. 193. Stone - Curlew. CEdicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmelin) Locally, Night Curlew. Decreasing annually as a breeding species. Individuals are obtained on passage in autumn and again in March. In i886 a specimen was obtained at Rainham as late as 23 Decem- 293
