Black Rat (Mus rattus).-The author has seen several Kentish speci mens. Brown Rat (Mus decumanus). Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius). Field Vole (Arvicola agrestis). Common Hare (Lepus timidus). Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus). Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deer (Cervus dama).--Are found in our Kentish parks, and perhaps their ancestors once ran wild in our woods at any rate, the outlying deer seem none the worse for the time they spend out of captivity. The Common Seal (Phoca Vitulina), the Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis), and the Porpoise (Phocaena Communis).-Have been taken in the twin estuary of the Medway and the Thames. A specimen of the Northern or Rudolph's Rorqual (Balaenoptera borealis).-Was stranded in the Thames off Tilbury, on October 19th, 1887. It measured 35ft. 4in., and a second was caught at Gillingham on August 30th, 1888, which measured 32ft.2in. Another whale caught at Gravesend in September, 1883, appears not to have been identified. Of course these latter have probably never come up the Medway so high as our valley, but we think that our natural history notes in general had better be extended to the county than so small a district; especially, as in this case, whales must have come here years ago, since Henry I. gave the church at Rochester all the whales caught in the Medway. CHAPTER XV. NATURAL HISTORY-BIRDS, REPTILES, FISHES. S to whether all the birds that have been traced in Kent have occurred in valley it would be hard to tell, and therefore I have contented myself with naming our commoner Kentish birds, and then speaking of the rarer sorts. We have fifty-six British residents that live with us all the year :— Other birds that have been detected in Kent we mention, with a note upon where they were seen : Erne or Sea Eagle.-High Halstow. Golden Eagle.-Sheppey, between Canterbury and Eastwell. Rough-legged Buzzard.-Three at Cobham in 1876, two at St. Peter's, Isle of Thanet, and one Waltham, near Canterbury. Honey Buzzard. - Cobham (1881), Rainham. Osprey.-Cobham. at Kite.-Cliffe (1881), Ramsgate (1887), Rodmersham. Gyrfalcon. Mr. Pemberton Bartlett told Mr. Morris this bird was rare in Kent. I never met any one who had seen it, nor saw it myself. Peregrine Falcon.-Cobham, Rainham. Hobby.-Chattenden Roughs, Rainham. Red-footed Falcon.-Hythe (1862). Chalk, The Eagle Owl.-Is chronicled in Kent, by Morris and Yarrell. Snowy Owl.-Frinstead (1884). Tengmalm's Owl.-Killed in Kent (1885). Mottled Owl.--Lord Clifton sup poses that the American mottled owl was found in the larch plantations at Cuxton, but he does not appear quite certain. Great Shrike. Reported in Kent by Morris. Red-backed Shrike.-Reported from Cobham, Shorne, Cuxton, Mereworth, and Great Comp. Woodchat.-Reported twice in Kent by Morris, also seen in 1890 at Sittingbourne. Pied Flycatcher.-At Deal (1850), Cobham (1868), Rainham, Ramsgate. Bearded Tit.-Occasionally seen in Kent. Roller.-Rainham. Bee-eater.-Kingsgate (1827), according to Morris. Hoopoe.-Ryarsh, where it built for some years. Cornish Chough.-Used to inhabit the cliffs near Dover for some years. Raven.-Thames marshes: destroyed at Cobham for attacking the Heronry. Nutcracker.-Reported by Morris, as having been once killed in Kent during the last century. Waxwing.-Seen by the author at Higham, and others round the neighbourhood of Rochester, in the winters of 1879-80, and 1880 -81; an occasional, and very pretty winter visitor. Greater Spotted Woodpecker.-Cobham, Erith. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.-Cob ham. Alpine Swift.-One was seen at Kingsgate, in the Isle of Thanet, according to Morris (1820). Grey-headed Wagtail.-Dover (1851). Red-throated Pipit.-Rainham. Shore Lark.-Two killed at Down, according to Mr. Yarrell. Snow Bunting.—Rainham. Cirl Bunting.-Perhaps at Cobham, Ramsgate. Ortolan Bunting.-Lord Clifton thinks he saw this at Cobham, but appears not quite certain. Tree Sparrow.-Not uncommon. Parrot Crossbill.-Once observed in a men labelled Kent in the Maid- The Dipper.-Two specimens labelled between Dover and Walmer in 1841, and at Elmstone, near Sandwich, in 1849. Bluebreast.-Found at Margate. Bluethroated warbler, probably the same species, was shot at Dartford in 1881. (1888). Rochester Great Bustard.-Ashford, Romney (1859). Little Bustard.—Chatham, according to Morris (1834); Higham. Pratincole.-There is a stuffed speci men in Lord's Clifton's collection, which was the property formerly of Sivey, a bird stuffer in Gravesend, who declared it to have been killed in the county. The Courser.-Morris gives Wingham (1793). Great Plover.-Frequently seen. Golden Plover.-Several occasions. Kentish Dottrell.-The name itself be speaks its Occurrence in the county. Ringed Dottrell. - Frequents East Common Dottrell.-Rainham. Heron.-There are heronries still in Kent, at Chilham, Cobham and Night Heron.-In the Maidstone museum; it has occurred in the county. Greenshank.--Swancombe (1848), seen Sabine's Snipe.-Rochester (1824). Curlew Sandpiper.-Sandwich (1836), Deal (1850), often found at Pegwell Bay. Purple Sandpiper.-Several, in differ ent parts of Kent. Spotted Crake. Cliffe, Rainham. According to Morris, abundant in Kent marshes. Baillon's Crake.-Two taken at Deal (1850 and 1851). Water Rail.-One observed between Nursted and Cobham. Grey Phalarope.-Once on Thames, near Swanscombe. White-fronted Goose.-Frequents the marshes. Egyptian Goose.-In 1846, five Egyp tian geese were seen in Romney marsh. Greylag Goose.-Rainham marshes. Bewick's Swan.-Lidsing woods. Polish Swan.-Thirty were seen, and four shot at Snodland in 1838. Sheldrake.-Rainham. Pintail.-Cobham (1881). The Gadwell.-Yarrell declares to be a native of Kent. The Gargney.-Morris says is rare in Kent. The Widgeon.-Several times dis covered. Common Scoter.-On the Medway (1888). Also reported by Mr. Green. Velvet Scoter.-Two labelled Kent in Maidstone museum. A stuffed specimen, seen by the author, which belonged to a countryman, who captured it when it entered a farmyard at Frindsbury to feed. Mr. Green also reports it. Tufted Duck.-Reported by Mr. Green of Rainham. Red-crested Whistling Duck.-Eight een were seen at Erith in 1853. The Ferruginous or Red Duck.-Killed at Dover (1849-50). Pochard.-Four seen at Cobham. Scaup.-Perhaps seen at Cobham, but it appears to be very uncertain. Golden-eye. Cobham. Long-tailed Duck.-This bird, according to Morris, favours Kent. Red-breasted Merganser.-Frequents the Thames. Goosander.-Often Thames. seen on the Hooded Merganser.-At Gravesend (1870) two were shot. Red-breasted Grebe.-Morris reports as killed in Kent (April 1786), afterwards at Sandwich, and at Stangate Creek on the Medway, (1849). Great Crested Grebe.-Shot on the Medway (1876), Otterham quay; two in Maidstone museum labelled Kent. Little Grebe or Dabchick.-Breeds at Chalk, Cobham (1881), Higham (1884), Town Malling (1891), reported by Messrs. Lamb and Green, and Lord Clifton. Great Northern Diver.-Sheerness (1842). Black-throated Diver.-Sittingbourne (1840), Sandwich (1842), near Erith (1850), Upchurch (1888). Red-throated Diver.-Often seen in the estuary of the Thames and Medway. Guillemot.-Often reported on the coast. Rotche, or Little Auk.-Favours the coast, Boxley (1879). Sandwich Tern.-Its name after our Kentish town proclaims it to have been recorded in the county. Lesser Tern.-Often seen in the marshes of the Hundred of Hoo and Grayne. Black Tern.-Once plentiful in Romney marsh. Gull-billed Tern. Shot in Kent (1839). Cormorant.-According to Morris, on The Puffin.-Recorded by Mr. Green. Lesser Black-backed Gull. These birds are our commonest seen gulls. Great Black-backed Gull. The Black backed Gull goes far inland. Herring Gull. Little Gull.-Sheerness (1840). Masked Gull.-Ashford (1853). Laughing Gull.-Morris records five seen at Winchelsea in Sussex, in 1774. As this is close to the Kentish border the birds may perhaps be recorded as belonging to Kent. Kittiwake.-Reported by Mr. Green. Glaucous Gull.-Ramsgate (1846.) Skua Gull.-Not unfrequently met with. Richardson's Skua.-Not unfrequently met with. Pomerine Skua.-Dover (1844). Cinereous Shearwater.-An occasional visitor. Manx Shearwater.-Erith. I have to record my obligations to Lord Clifton, to Mr. Lamb of Maidstone, and to Mr. Green of Rainham, for much valuable |