Capt. Blakiston on the Oi-nithology of Northern Japan. 321 



Parus ater, Linn. 



Two specimens, both taken to be young females, were ob- 

 tained in October. They cannot be separated from the Cole Tit 

 of Europe. 



Parus kamtschatkensis, Bp., Consp. p. 230. 



One specimen, sex unknown, hardly differing from the Marsh 

 Tit, is dated 20th October : Dr. Sclater considers it to be this 

 species. Mr. Maximovitch places one of his specimens under 

 the name oiP.palustris, but it is probably the same as my own. 

 A long-tailed species was also seen. 



Parus rubidus, Temm. & Schl., Faun. Jap. p. 71, pi. xxxv. 



A single specimen was selected from a number of this well- 

 marked species; it was obtained from a native birdcatcher. 

 Being a common species and very lively and interesting in con- 

 finement, this is a favourite cage-bird with the Japanese. As 

 the autumn draws on and the summer residents somewhat regain 

 the freshness of their plumage, spoiled by the labours of incu- 

 bation, while other birds which have passed the summer in 

 more northern climes arrive in the neighbourhood of Hakodadi, 

 the professed birdcatchers, boys, children, and others without 

 any fixed occupation, devote themselves to the capture of live 

 birds. Having a cage containing an individual of the species 

 they are specially in quest of, they distribute small branches and 

 twigs smeared with bird-lime in situations most tempting for 

 the inquisitive, and hiding themselves at a short distance, await 

 the successive arrivals of those attracted by the voice or motions 

 of the "'coy," consigning each successive capture to the dark 

 regions of a canvas bag. Others roam about the woods with 

 long and slender bamboo rods, covered near their points with 

 bird-lime, and stealthily approach unsuspicious birds perched 

 on trees or bushes, pushing the bamboo through the leaves as 

 gently as possible until close to the bird, when it is brought 

 quickly in contact with him, and fluttering his wings he be- 

 comes securely fastened to the stick and is dragged down. I 

 have seen birds as large as the Green Woodpecker caught in 

 this way, and am only sorry that in the hurry of leaving I neg- 



