Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Foochow. 261 



with close-set withered branches some 8 or 10 feet high. The 

 tide overtops them and enables the fish to float into the enclosures, 

 whence their egress at the recess of the water is rendered impossible 

 by the barrier of branches, and they thus become an easy prey to 

 the successful cunning of the fishermen. The tide is now low ; 

 and as we approach the high hedges of the enclosures, we natu- 

 rally wonder how the boatmen will manage to land us. The 

 helmsman gives a cheering shout, the men bend to their oars, 

 and in a few seconds we have chai'ged through the mass. We 

 look round expecting to see a large gap, and to hear the execra- 

 tions of the fishermen, who are paddling about not far from us ; 

 but no, the osiers have sprung back to their former position, and 

 no gap is visible. A mile of paddy-field brings us to the first 

 temple and gateway, leading up a broad stoneway to the hill 

 monastery. At this entrance large banyans and pine-trees are 

 clustered about in truly picturesque style, and the mixed notes 

 from their numerous feathered inhabitants fill our bosoms with 

 ornithological hopes. Even on the gate-porch several birds are 

 sitting and enjoying themselves with noisy chatter. As we 

 approach they take to the trees, and by their sweet blue plumage 

 and long tail we cheerfully recognize the handsome Urocissa si- 

 nensis. Numbers of the Bispecular Jay {Garrulus ornatus) are 

 here also, as noisy as usual. We observe Turtur chinensis and 

 T. gelastes in abundance, and occasionally a late straggling 

 couple of T. humilis. Other birds are also here in infinity, 

 and among them we distinguish the Ruticilla aurorea, lanthia 

 rufilata, Mi/iophonus cceruleus, Turdus daulias, and Enicurus spe- 

 ciosus ; but as we shall refer at the end of this article to the 

 few worth recording that we procured, let us pass up the hill. 

 The day was warm, and the ascent up the paved way very tedious; 

 but the splendid view revealed at each of the three-stage lodges, 

 each higher one giving a more extended view of the lovely vale 

 beneath us, was extremely refreshing. The prospect over the val- 

 ley, however, in the summer season is far more attractive, when 

 the fields display one vast carpet of green waving rice, intersected 

 by a labyrinth of streams connected with the river, which supply 

 the agricultural system of the plain like so many silver arteries, 

 the whole landscape being gilded to effulgence by the direct rays 



VOL. IV. T 



