254 Mr. E. Swinlioe on the Birds 



3. Bubo maximus. 



I twice saw this fine Owl. Once we were on an expedition, 

 when the whole party stopped to see one of this giant species sitting 

 on a rock some way up a hill, and trying to ward off the attacks 

 of a pair of Red-legged Falcons, who were hovering over and 

 darting at him on each side. At last he flew to the other side 

 of the hill to try and take refuge from his small assailants ; but 

 they followed after and continued their persecution until he hid 

 himself under a rock. At another time, when I was clambering 

 over the hills that skirt the harbour between "Pearl Bay" and 

 " Odin Bay," I suddenly turned a corner and came close in view of 

 a very fine specimen, which at once rose respectfully and flapped 

 over the valley out of view. These birds, I presume, banquet 

 off the Hares {Lepus sinensis) that scantily people the surround- 

 ing country. 



4. Cypselus vittatus, Jardine. 



This Swift has a long sweep of coast for his peregrinations. 

 At Amoy we have his company in the spring, while the weather 

 remains rainy and unsettled ; we found him in the commence- 

 ment of June breeding on the Lam-yit islands; and later, 

 towards the close of that month, we find him again, a thousand 

 miles north, sporting about in the clear atmosphere of Salienwan. 

 As the season advances and the incubatory duties are finally 

 concluded, he betakes himself south again for the winter. 



5. HiRUNDO RUSTiCA, Linn. 



I think we must drop the gutturalis of Scopoli and call this 

 bird by its old familiar name ; for it can certainly be no other 

 than our English acquaintance, though somewhat smaller in 

 size. It differs nothing in point of colouring, and in habits uo 

 more than the change of situation would lead one to expect. 

 This species was plentiful enough among the villages. 



6. Upupa epops, Linn. 



In a willow grove a party of these birds, probably consisting 

 of a family group, had taken up their quarters, and fi'om this 

 spot they used to make their little excursions into the neigh- 

 bouring open land, skimming along with long undulating flight. 

 Sometimes they would toy and gambol with one another in the 



