May 10th. Found a nest in an empty iron shell-case with a full clutch of fresh eggs in it. July 16th–21st. Plenty of these birds still about.
Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis).—About the commonest bird on the beach and surrounding land, laying wherever there is a "tot" of grass big enough for it to make its nest in. May 10th-14th. Found nests with eggs in all stages of incubation, and with young birds already fairly well-fledged.
Swallow (Hirundo rustica).—May 10th–14th. A good many of these birds building in the recesses of the sham forts on the artillery range. July 20th. Found a nest under the eaves of a shed on the marsh-land with five fresh eggs in it.
Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris).—May 10th–14th. Nesting in numbers in the holly and furze bushes on the beach.
House-Sparrow (Passer domesticus).—May 10th–14th. Numbers of nests in the tops of the holly and elder bushes on the beach, at quite a considerable distance from any farm or building.
Linnet (Linota cannabina).—May 10th–14th. Nesting in the holly bushes on the beach. I also found a good many nests in the tussocks of coarse grass growing on some sand dunes in the direction of Rye; some of these latter nests were made right on the level of the ground.
Corn-Bunting (Emberiza miliaria).—A clutch of addled eggs of this species were sent on to me (Aug. 14th). I was told that they were common on the arable land of the marsh, but I did not see any myself.
Yellow Bunting (E. citrinella).—May 10th–14th. Common and nesting in the furze bushes.
Reed-Bunting (E schœniclus).—May 10th–14th. Nesting in some numbers in any places near water. Some of the nests I found at this date contained hard-sat eggs, and all of them showed signs of incubation. The nests were, as a rule, within twelve inches of the ground, in rank grass or rushes; two of them were right on the ground. The nests are rather loosely constructed of grass, with a slight lining of hair.
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).—May 10th–14th. Considerable numbers feeding in the meadows; also nesting in holes in the thatch of all farm-buildings.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—May 10th–14th. There is a rookery in Lydd, and there are always numbers of these birds feeding on the marsh-land and meadows.
Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis).—May 10th–14th. Nesting everywhere
