428 Mr. R. Swinhoe^s Ornithological Notes made at Chefoo. 



coalescing into splashes ; the tibials with conspicuous heart- 

 shaped dark spots. Tarse and feet more delicate^ the former 

 with small hexagonal scales. 



Length. Wing. Tail. 



Small ? 13 9 6-88 



Large ? 15-25 10-5 8 



The unusual appearance of the bird, and its very large size, 

 made me half believe that I had got a novelty ; but I have 

 searched in vain for any structural difference, and I am forced 

 to admit that my single specimen must be merely an extra- 

 ordinary individual variety. At least we have not sufficient 

 material for coming to any other conclusion. 



5. Eastern Red-legged Falcon. Erythropus amurensis 

 (Radde). 



Soon after my arrival at Chefoo, on 4th May, I made an 

 excursion to the " Bois de Boulogne. ^^ We had not pene- 

 trated far along the avenue of tall trees that leads to it from 

 the road w^hen I recognized the Kestrel-like scream of this 

 species, and soon saw a male with conspicuous white axillaries 

 wheeling in circles in the sky above. He was quickly fol- 

 lowed by a female. I was glad to see that this little Hawk 

 was already here on its summer visit; and shortly after, espying 

 a large Magpie's nest up a high tree, I had my sedan chair 

 put down, and induced my chair-coolies to attempt climbing 

 the long smooth pole. While my men were addressing them- 

 selves to the task I noticed the birds go several times to the 

 nest, and my hopes were high that eggs were laid. An ex- 

 cresence on the bole some way up foiled my men, and they 

 gave up the ascent. I tried a more accessible Magpie's nest 

 on the way home. A pair of Red-legged Falcons were hover- 

 ing near ; but the parent Magpies were about too. The nest 

 contained only callow young Magpies. A few days later, in 

 the garden of a missionary living in the country at some dis- 

 tance from the town, I noticed a female Falcon fly from the 

 top of a Magpie's nest. I sent a man up, but he found the nest 

 empty. With all my eiforts I did not succeed in getting 

 either an egg or a downy chick. 



In a dry watercourse, or " nullah," about a mile from the 



