332 Capt. Blakiston on the Ornithology of Northern Japan. 



I preserved no specimens of Anatidce in Japan ; but the fol- 

 lowing may be considered to belong to Northern Japan on good 

 authority^ except such as are marked doubtful : — Cygnus musi~ 

 cus {?), Anser {sp.l), Anser hernicla ij.) , Anas boschas, Quer- 

 quedula falcaria, Mareca penelope, Anas fuscai^.), A. nigrai^.), 

 Dafila acuta, Nettion crecca, Spatula clypeata, Fuligula clan- 

 gula {t), Mergus serrator, M. merganser (?). 



The Japanese are very expert in netting water-fowl, and 

 they bring in numbers to Hakodadi caught in that way. For 

 Ducks and Teal the usual method is to clear away the grass 

 from a swamp for a space of about 35 by 20 yards, so as to 

 form a clear surface of open water, likely to attract the birds at 

 feeding- time. Across this several nets are stretched, which are 

 fastened to cords attached to stakes on either side, and hang 

 vertically over the water, being about 2 feet above it at the 

 bottom, and about 6 feet high. The net is made of fine twine, 

 and with large meshes, so that it is not easily seen, and, being 

 allowed to bag, easily entangles the birds when they fly against 

 it in skimming over the surface of the pool before alighting. 

 The evening is the principal time for the operation, and men sit 

 watching the nets from small turf huts or screens made of 

 branches. These Duck-catchers mostly occupy themselves in 

 cutting grass during the day. In October I saw a great many 

 of these places, and probably the same plan is adopted in the 

 spring. 



One Cormorant at least is very abundant at Hakodadi, and 

 Mr. Maximovitch obtained a specimen which he called Carbo 

 cormoranus of the ' Fauna Japonica/ 



The only Gull, as I have mentioned before, of which I ob- 

 tained specimens was Larus melanurus ; while, with regard 

 to the Larida generally, I refer to p. 311, at the commencement 

 of these notes. 



In closing this sketch of the birds of Northern Japan, so far 

 as they are at present known, my thanks are due to Dr. P. L. 

 Sclater for having examined my specimens, and, as Editor of 

 ' The Ibis,' for correcting and inserting scientific names of species 

 and references to authorities. I have only to urge as an excuse 

 for a more extended list, that, during the latter part of my three 



