Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Birds observed about Talien Bay. 251 



214. FuLiGULA CRisTATA. (Tufted Pochard.) 



Seen on the large jheels, in small numbers, during the cold 

 season. 



215. FuLiGULA XYROCA. (Whitc-eycd Pochard.) 

 Extremely numerous in the cold season ; and is very good for 



the table. 



216. Mergus CASTOR. (Goosander.) 



Seen on Sandee jheel, near Hurdui, in February 1859. 



217. Mergus albellus. (Smew.) 



Occasionally seen, in January and February, in small flocks of 

 from three to seven. 



218. PoDicEPs CRisTATUS. (Great-crcstcd Grebe.) 

 Frequently seen on the jheel at Sandee and on other large 



jheels towards the end of the cold season. 



219. Podiceps philippensis. (Dabchick.) 



Very common throughout the year, and breeds during the 

 rains. 



XXIV. — Notes on the Birds observed about Talien Bay {North 

 China), from June 21 to July 25, 1860. By Robert Swinhoe, 

 of H. M.^s Consular Service. 



Before giving my notes and observations on the few birds of 

 the place, it will be necessary to give the reader a brief introduc- 

 tion to the "natura loci." Talien Bay (the Chinese word, by 

 some explanations meaning " girdle," and according to others, 

 " united") is the name applied by the British to a bay in the 

 extreme southerly peninsula of the Province of Leautung, where 

 the expeditionary force rendezvoused previous to their campaign 

 in the Gulf of Pecheli. Whence the name took its origin re- 

 mains a mystery, as it was perfectly unknown to the natives of 

 the place. The bay measures, from north to south, about 9 miles, 

 and from east to west, about 13 miles. The S.E. and N.W. shores 

 are steep and rocky, the cliffs in some parts rising up perpendi- 

 cularly from the water. In the N.E. angle and on the W. the 

 land gradually slopes towards the sea and forms a shelving 



s2 



