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A HISTORY OF KENT Immature specimens have been met with on three occasions on the marshes near the river Medway.' This bird has also been obtained in the Sittingbourne district (Dowker). The favourite locality for this species is, or rather w^as, the broad tract of stones, relieved here and there by large ponds, known as the Lydd beach. I have the following records from this locality : One specimen in the Plomley Museum ; two in Mr. Blacklock's house at Lydd, preserved some years ago by Mr. Jell, the local birdstufFer. On g May 1889 two adult males were shot by two of the Souther- den family. One of these is now in my collection ; the other was sold to Mr. Gray of Dover for £"]. In June 1890 a party of five appeared, but to use the words of the fishermen, ' We were too greedy, we wanted the " blooming " lot, and ended by getting none.' On 24 May 1891 an immature bird was obtained. There is another still in the possession of the Southerdens, shot some twenty years ago. This specimen is a very perfect one. The broad suffused rust-coloured ring is remarkable for its intensity. On 12 June 1896 a single individual appeared near the Midrips,* in company with five herons. The above records will show that the visits of the spoonbill have become fewer and farther between of late years. I have observed this species sometimes on the sands in company with gulls. 148. Flamingo. Phcenicopterus roseus, Pallas. There is only one reliable record from Kent. On 12 August 1884, when Captain G. E. Shelley, the well known ornithologist, was waiting near New Romney for the even- ing flights of curlews, an adult flamingo flew past him, having been put up by his two nephews, who got within about fifty yards of it (Howard Saunders, Ma?i. Brit. Birds, 1898, p. 395). 149. White-Fronted Goose. Anser albifrom (Scopoli) Locally, Speckled-belly Goose. A regular winter visitor. There are three specimens from Lydd in the Maidstone Museum, and another in the Folkestone collection, taken on the Warren, Dover. 150. Bean-Goose. Amer scgetum (J. F. Gmelin) Locally, Gray Goose. Comes to us in the winter, and next to the ^ These are a series 01 shallow ponds on the Lydd beach. brent goose is the most common of all the geese, visiting the mouths of our rivers and the ' petts ' in the marsh land. 151. Pink-footed Goose. Anser hrachyrhyn- chus, Baillon. Locally, Gray Goose. An irregular winter visitant. There are two specimens from Lydd in the Maidstone Museum. Another example was obtained at Preston in January 1887 (Dowker). 152. Barnacle-Goose. Bernicla leucopsis^Be.c'h- stein) I have no recorded occurrence of this goose. There is a specimen in the Folkestone Museum which was probably locally taken. Mr. George Dowker says : ' This species is mostly found at sea.' 153. Brent Goose. Bernicla hrenta (Pallas) Locally, Clattergoose. Abundant. In severe winters they come to our creeks and mud-flats in large parties. In March a migration southward may be noticed, the birds travelling high overhead in wedge-shaped batches, but seldom stopping by the way. 154. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus,V>i:z- stein. Locally, Wild Swan. Small batches of four to five birds occa- sionally appear on the sands at low water between Rye Harbour and Lydd during the winter. It occurs also occasionally inland. The last appearance I have on record was in November 1896, when a party of three appeared close to Rye Harbour. Two of these were shot. It has been obtained at Stourmouth (Dowker). 155. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus hewicki,Y2Xx€^. Locally, Tame Swan. An occasional visitor. It has been obtained at Lydd (Plomley collection), at Wingham (Oxenden Hammond), and at Rainham, where a fine female example was killed on 22 January 1879 (Prentis). 156. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin) Locally, Bar-gander. A fairly common winter visitor to our creeks and brackish waters near the sea. Owing to the drainage of our marshes it is not so numerous as formerly. 157. Ruddy Sheld-Duck. Tadorna casarca (Linn.) A rare winter migrant. On 8 September 290