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 A HISTORY OF KENT two specimens in the Dover Museum from Lydd, where this species has nested (Plomley). 44. Grey Wagtail. Motadlla melanopr^ Pallas. A summer and winter visitant, but very locally distributed. It keeps much to the vicinity of running water, and is seldom found like the pied wagtail on fallow or grass land. In September immature birds visit our brooks and streams on their migration south- ward, often remaining for several days in the locality, while during winter an occasional adult bird has come under my notice. It breeds very sparingly in the county. I have records of nests taken near Cranbrook and in the vicinity of Dover, not far from the river. It does not appear to breed in the Rainham district, but is now and again met with during winter in the marsh land (Prentis). 45. Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motadlla Jlava, Linn. An occasional summer visitor. An indi- vidual was killed by striking itself against the telegraph wires between Deal and Dover on I May 1889. Mr. Oxenden Hammond iden- tified the bird soon after it was picked up. 46. Yellow Wagtail. Motadlla rait (Bona- parte) A summer visitor to the county, the influx in some years being considerable. Many breed in the dyke land between Rye and Dungeness, where I have frequently found nests. A few individuals pass further inland and frequent plough land and pea fields, where they breed. I have seen them near Ashford, frequenting bean fields, to which they seem very partial. Towards the end of August they begin to congregate prior to departure, and may sometimes be seen in considerable numbers on the south coast. The young are the first to depart, the old birds going some- what later, some of which remain with us till quite late in autumn. In 1894 a bird was observed at Cranbrook on 1 9 October. The following note is from my diary during the migration season near Rye in 1896 : ' On August 27th, during the evening, an ex- traordinary influx of yellow wagtails took place. The bean and stubble fields became literally alive with them, while many perched after the manner of swallows on the telegraph wires near the sea-wall. Just now the males of this species are very quarrelsome and may constantly be seen fighting amongst them- selves.' This wagtail arrives in the county with considerable regularity. In 1S95 it appeared at Cranbrook on 2 April, and in the following year on 26 March. Mr. Prentis of Rain- ham says : ' The yellow wagtail comes on or about April loth, sooner or later accord- ing to the weather : they breed as a rule in our pea-fields, not often in the clover.' On 10 April 1895 Mr. Springett of Cranbrook received a beautifully coloured specimen obtained in the neighbourhood. The whole of the underparts were a rich sulphur-yellow. Examples of this kind not unfrequently occur. Mr. Prentis says : ' the first-comers on the spring migration are always the most brilliant in plumage.' 47. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivlalis (Linn.) A well distributed summer visitor, arriving during the first week in April and leaving again in September. It frequents copses and woods (especially those of the latter that have been cut over) in the vicinity of moist low- lying ground. Mr. Prentis says : ' In the Rainham district, when making hay near the woods, the tree-pipit flies from heap to heap, keeping the hay-makers company, singing all the while its pleasing song.' This bird arrives in the county with surprising regu- larity. In the Cranbrook district in 1894, 1895 and 1896 the dates of arrival were 7, 4 and 2 April respectively. 48. Meadow-Pipit. Jnthus pratensis [L'mn.) A resident in the county throughout the year, but the majority, consisting chiefly of young birds, leave in September, when I have observed considerable parties feeding on grass seeds among the sand dunes in the vicinity of the south coast, prior to their departure across the Channel. In March a return migration takes place, small parties after leaving the coast line coming to our meadows, where they disperse and pair off for the breeding season. 49. Red- throated Pipit. Anthus cerv'inus (Pallas) An example of this rare species was shot by Mr. Prentis at Rainham in April 1880 {Birds of Rainham, p. 32). It was identified by Dr. R. B. Sharpe. 50. Richard's Pipit. Anthus ridjardi, VieWlot. This rare pipit has been obtained twice in the county, while on another occasion in the year 1 890 it was observed at Rainham by Mr. Prentis. The late Mr. Charles Gordon of the Dover Museum, writing in October i868, says : 'On the 2 1st of October, I shot a most superb specimen of Richard's Pipit in a cornfield in the environs of Dover. It