information that enables me to give what I hope is a fairly complete list of the birds that have occurred in this county from time to time REPTILES. Most of the reptiles that have been found in England have been reported from Kent. We subjoin a list of those that have been As the Medway has been always a great fish river, and as it were difficult to say how far the stray fish ascend or descend a stream, we shall mention the chief fish that frequent our Kentish waters, specially observing those that we happen to have known as the fish of the Medway and its tributary-connected waters. Perch (Perca fluviatilis).-A very frequent fish in the Medway and Thames. Bass (Perca labrax).—A fish very fre. quent round the Kentish coast. Ruffe (Perca Cernua).-I have caught this fish in several ponds in Kent, and it is found in the Thames. Great Weaver (Trachinus draco). Lesser Weaver (Trachinus vipera). Striped Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus). Red Gurnard (Trigla cuculus). Streaked Gurnard (Trigla lineata). Grey Gurnard (Trigla Gurnardus). Miller's Thumb or Bullhead (Cottus gobio). In the upper waters of the Medway. Armed Bullhead (Cottus cataphractus). Father Lasher (Cottus bubalis). Crucian Carp (Cyprinus carassius).— Thames. Barbel (Cyprinus barbus).-Thames. Gudgeon (Cyprinus gobio).-A common species in the Medway. Tench (Cyprinus tinca).-Many Kentish ponds. Bream (Cyprinus bramus).-Bream weighing four and five pounds have been taken in the Medway. Pomeranian Bream (Cyprinus buggenhagii).-As Bell speaks of finding this fish in Dagenham Breach, it may possibly find its way in the twin waters of the Thames and Medway to our Kentish shores. Dobule Roach (Cyprinus dobula).— Caught by Bell in the Thames below Woolwich. Roach (Cyprinus Rutilus).-Perhaps our commonest fish. Dace (Cyprinus leuciscus).-Not a common Medway fish by any Garfish (Esox belone). Herring (Clupea harengus). Whitebait (Clupea alba).-This, as Thames. Anchovy (Clupea eucrasicolus).—Has been found in the Thames. Haddock (Gadus æglefinus).—Has been caught at Rochester bridge. Whiting Pout (Gadus luscus).Thames and Medway mouth. Whiting (Gadus merlangus). Hake (Gadus merlucius). Five-bearded Rockling (Gadus mus tela). Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).-Rivers Medway and Thames. Flounder (Pleuronectes plesus).— Thames and Medway. Dab (Pleuronectes limanda).-Thames and Medway. Smooth Dab (Pleuronectes levis). (Cyclopterus bimaculatus). Has been taken on the coast of Kent. Sharp-nosed Eel (Mureena anguilla), Common Eel.-Common in the Medway. Broad-nosed Eel (Anguilla latirostris). -About as common as the other. Conger Eel (Conger vulgaris).—Medway, Swale, Thames. Great Pipe Fish (Syngnathus acus). Short-nosed Hippocampus or SeaHorse, (Hippocampus brevir. ostris). The Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio).— The sturgeon caught in the Thames and the Medway, are considered royal fish, and as such are supposed to belong to the sovereign of right, and are expected to be forwarded by the catcher to the king or queen. Small Spotted Dog-fish (Squalus canicula). Common Tope (Squalus galeus). Smooth Hound (Squalus Mustela). Thornback (Raia clavata). Lampern (Petromyzon fluviatilis).— This little fish the author used frequently to catch in the Upper Medway, together with his schoolfellows, simply by watching where there were a number of them, and then taking off boots and stockings, and dipping their feet in the water, when the fish used to adhere to the naked feet and allow themselves thus to be drawn out of the water. CHAPTER XVI. PLANTS. HE author will now conclude this short sketch of the Natural History of Kent by giving the flora. The greater number of plants that are mentioned are found in the district he is describing, and have been identified by himself. Where otherwise, the authority will be given. Clematis vitalba.-Wild clematis. Thalictrum flavum.-Meadow rue. Anemone pulsatilla.-Pasque flower; reported to the author as occurring at Wrotham. Anemone ranunculoides. Hooker tells us is to be found at Wrotham in Kent. Adonis autumnalis. Mr. Hepworth of Rochester has kindly added this plant, with several others I shall mention with his name, to my list. Ranunculus circinatus.-Rigid-leaved water crowfoot. Ranununculus fluitans.-River crowfoot. Ranunculus Drouetii.-Drouet's water crowfoot. Ranunculus peltatus.-Water crowfoot. Ranunculus hederaceus.-Ivy-leaved Ranunculus arvensis.-Corn buttercup. Ranunculus ficaria.-Lesser celandine. Caltha palustris.-Marsh marigold. Trollius Europaeus.-Globe flower; a plant common in Kentish gardens, but I cannot find that it has been discovered wild in this county. Helleborus viridis.-Green hellebore. Two localities. Helleborus fœtidus.—Stinking hellebore. Frequent on the chalk. Eranthis hyemalis.-Winter aconite. Perhaps naturalised in one or two districts, but certainly not wild. Aquilegia vulgaris.-Wild columbine. This graceful plant is the ornament of many a Kentish wood. Delphinium consolida-Field larkspur. The London catalogue gives Ajacis only. I have had the Larkspur forwarded from East Kent. Mr. Hepworth of Rochester has de. tected it. The Faversham Floral, published many years ago, mentions it, and Hooker also claims it for Kent. Aconitum napellus.-Monk's hood, common wolf bane. I have seen this plant growing where I had reason to think it a native, but, as it is a very common garden plant, it may have been an escape. Berberis vulgaris.-Common barberry. Occasional. Nymphaea alba.-White water lily. Nuphar lutea.-Yellow water lily. Papaver somniferum.-Opium poppy. Very common in parts of the county. Papaver rhoeas.-Common red poppy. Papaver dubium.-Long smooth-headed poppy. Papaver argemone. Long roughheaded poppy. Papaver hybridum.-Round roughheaded poppy. Glaucium flavum.-The horned poppy. Chelidonium majus.- Greater celandine. Corydalis lutea.-Yellow corydalis: communicated by Mr. Oliver of West Malling. Corydalis claviculata.-The climbing corydalis. Fumaria pallidiflora.-Pale fumitory. Fumaria officinals.-Common fumitory. Fumaria parviflora.-Least-flowered fumitory. Hooker in his " British Flora," and Babington in his "Manual of British Botany," claim this plant for Wouldham. Matthiolia incana.-Hoary shrubby stock; communicated by Mr. Hepworth. Cheiranthus cheiri.-Wallflower. Nasturtium officinale. Common watercress. Nasturtium sylvestre.-Creeping yel low cress. Sisymbrium officinale. hedge mustard. Sisymbrium Sophia.-Flixweed. Sisymbrium Alliaria.-Common gar lick mustard; Jack-by-the-hedge. Erysimum cheiranthoides. Wormseed treacle mustard; in Mr. Lamb's (Maidstone) little pamphlet we find this plant. Erysimum Orientale. Hare's-ear treacle mustard; communicated by Professor Holmes. -- Camelina sativa.-Common gold of pleasure; communicated by Professor Holmes. Brassica Oleracea.-Sea cabbage. Brassica rutabaga.-Swede. Brassica nigra.-Common mustard. Senebiera coronopus.-Swinecress. Lepidium ruderale.-Narrow-leaved pepper-wort; contributed by Messrs. Holmes and Hepworth. Lepidium campestre.-Common Mithridates pepper-wort. Lepidium Smithii.-Smooth field pepper-wort; according to Mr. Lamb. Lepidium draba.-Whitlow pepper. wort. According to Mr. Lamb. Thlaspi arvense.-Penny cress. Iberis Amaris.-Bitter candytuft; communicated by Mr. Hepworth, who adds "probably an escape." |