IHE i'EliCHING BIIiDS. 131 



The rook {Frugilegus pastinatoT) is extremely common. Leaving 

 the rookeries in the interior during the winter, it journeys to the coastal 

 regions, where in company with the jackdaw [Coloeus dauuricus) it 

 congregates in great flocks, as Tientsin residents have good reason to 

 know. The rook may easily be distinguished from the crows, by its 

 naked face and narrow bill. 



The little jackdaw occurs everywhere in vast numbers. It is a 

 pretty and familiar bird with its white neck and belly. Another species 

 which is not so common in these parts is the black jackdaw 

 (C. neglectus). This bird is of the same size as the other, but is with- 

 out any white. 



In the interior, especially in some places, the chough (Graculus 

 graculus), is very abundant. It is a graceful bird, about the size of a 

 rook, with shiny black plumage, a long, curved, orange bill and orange 

 legs. It lives mostly in mountainous and hilly regions, building its 

 nest in holes in cliffs. In winter, as is the case with many members 

 of the crow family, large flocks of these birds may be seen. They then 

 associate very frequently with the jackdaw. 



Everybody is familiar with the common magpie (Pica caudata). 

 It is found everywhere, throughout North and Ceutxal China. 



The azure-winged magpie {Cyanopolius cy anus) and the blue magpie 

 (Urocissa sinensis) are two of the most beautiful birds found in North 

 China. The former is the smaller and is characterized by a black head, 

 pearl-grey breast, pale blue-grey back and delicate azure-blue wings and 

 tail. It occurs all over North China. The blue magpie is somewhat 

 similarly coloured, but has more blue about it. The black head is 

 spotted with light blue, the spots merging into each other on the nape of 

 the neck. The throat and breast, also, are black. The back is of a 

 pale mauve-blue, the wings azure tipped with white, the tail mauve- 

 blue tipped with white and very long. The legs are of a bright 

 orange-red. This bird occurs in Chihli, Honan, South Shansi, 

 Central and South Shensi and South Kansu. It keeps to more 

 or less wooded areas, though it may be seen in gardens even in the 

 vicinity of large towns. 



The jay is represented in North China by two species, QuttuIus 

 sinensis in the more southerly portion, and G. brandti in the north. 

 The latter also occurs in IManchuria. In general the plumage of these 

 two birds resembles that of their European cousin, but the blue on the 

 wing is more extensive, and there is also a white patchi on each wing. 

 In the case of G. sinensis the head and crest are plain, in the case of 



