Capt. Blakiston on the Ornithology of Northern Japan. 329 



TuRTUR RUPicoLA (Pallas) : Bp. Consp. ii. p. 60. 



In the way of Doves, one species, Turtur rupicola of Pallas, 

 figured in the ' Fauna Japonica ' as Columba {Turtur) gelastes, is 

 common enough during summer and autumn, but I did not 

 skin a single specimen. Commodore Perry's Expedition, how- 

 ever, obtained several at Hakodadi, which, having been carefully 

 examined by Mr. Cassin, were pronouned to be of the Indian 

 species, T. meena. Mr. Maximovitch saw a specimen of Columba 

 sieboldii of the ' Fauna Japonica' ; it was brought him by a 

 Japanese, and may have come from some distance. 



BoNASiA SYLVESTRis, Brehm. 



I brought home a single young male specimen, which Dr. 

 Sclater considers to be of this species, and which Mr. Maximo- 

 vitch, who had killed them, pronounced to be identical with 

 those of the Amoor. The length was 16|, and wing 6| inches. 

 Eye hazel-brown; bill dark horn-colour; feet leaden flesh; 

 over the eye orange-red. This is, I believe, the first instance 

 of this bird being found in Japan ; probably it does not inhabit 

 the more southern part of the empire. As far as I saw, it has 

 the same habits as the Euff'ed Grouse of North America [B. um- 

 bellus). Four fine specimens, of which the males had black 

 throats, were shot on another occasion in the thick woods, as 

 mentioned at p. 324. 



Respecting other game birds, Lagopus mutus is given in the 

 ' Fauna Japonica ' on the authority of a native drawing ; it will 

 perhaps turn out to be a winter visitaut to Yesso. The Quail 

 {Coturnix japonica) was collected at Hakodadi by Commodore 

 Perry's Expedition ; and plenty are caught and sold in the town ; 

 besides, I shot some which I considered identical with the Chinese 

 bird, but, my hands being full with other birds at the time, none 

 were even skinned. I have been informed of Pheasants being 

 seen in the neighbourhood of Hakodadi, and that at a certain 

 season of the year they are brought in for sale ; these may, 

 however, be brought across the Strait of Tsugar from the larger 

 island of Nipon ; and although I was three months at Hakodadi, 

 I did not see a single Pheasant, nor did I ever hear of one being 

 obtained there in a wild state. Mr. Maximovitch marks both Phas. 



