Mr. R. Swinhoe's Ornithological Notes made at Chefoo. 425 



adiantifolia, or poplar, showed a large round mass of sticks, in 

 which the thoughts of the ^Magpies were for the present concen- 

 trated. But in these same uncouth masses another interest 

 seemed also concerned, that of the Red-legged Falcon [Erythro- 

 pus amurensis) , several of which of both sexes were circling 

 about, now fluttering excitedly with rapid beats of wing, now 

 sailing steadily in long circles. The Red-legged Falcons had 

 apparently not long arrived, and had not yet begun to lay ; 

 but the Magpies had in most cases callow young, I sent a 

 sedan-coolie up a tree in the back garden of a man^s house in 

 a village to examine a Magpie's nest. When he reached the 

 nest I called out from below and asked him what he found 

 there. He said five red ones. Thinking that he meant red 

 eggs I was delighted at the prospect of Hawk's eggs, and told 

 him to bring them down. He brought down one addled 

 Magpie's egg and Ave wretched red sprawling young Magpies 

 with eyes still unopened. The owner of the property remon- 

 strated Avith me for robbing a Magpie's nest. He said we 

 owed them protection, as they put such confidence in us. 

 They call the Magpie here Ya-tcheo. Associated with the 

 Magpie I saw small parties of the Blue Magpie [Cyayiopolius 

 cyana). A specimen of the male afterwards brought to me 

 shows a race much larger, with longer tail, than that found 

 about Shanghai. It differs, however, only in some trifling 

 respects in colour and markings. Doves {Turtur gelastes) 

 bustled ofl'the branches as we advanced ; a Woodpecker {Pious 

 mandarinus) hammered away quite close to us ; an Owl {Ninox 

 japonicus) flew from tree to tree on our approach ; and a Goat- 

 sucker [Caprinmlgus jotaka) showed itself lying lengthwise on 

 a bough. Siskins and Mountain-Finches were twittering about 

 in small parties ; and Chinese birdcatchers, with their decoys 

 in cage-traps, were lying iu wait for them. From these we 

 got a live Tree-Pipit {Pipastes agilis) and a Pintail Snipe 

 {Gallinugo horsfieldi). Common and Daurian Swallows were 

 about the villages ; and occasionally a White-banded Swift 

 {Cypselus pacificus) might be seen speeding along overhead. 

 A few Stoncchats {Pratincola indica) were about the standing 

 corn. We met some Quail-catchers and brought home a 



