338 Mr. R. Swinboe's Notes on Ornithology 



as in flight and choice of roosting-ground. I much regret I was 

 unable to procure a specimen of this httle-known species, but the 

 temple they most frequented was occupied by the troops, and of 

 course all shooting prohibited within the precincts. 



70). White-cheeked Starling. Sturnus cineraceus, Temm. 

 Often seen in flocks in September, but not after. 



77. Silky Starling. Sturnus sericeus, Gm. 

 A few observed in September. 



78. Red-cheeked Starling. Sturnus pyrrhogenys, Temm. 

 & Schl. 



I once saw a few small Starling-like birds that I attributed to 

 this species : it was, I think, in August. 



79. Wryneck. Yunx torquilla, L. 



I observed this species in August, and have no doubt it 

 travels southward to hibernate. It arrives at Amoy in September. 



80. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus canus, Gmelin? 



M. Zill assured me this was no other than the European species, 

 but I have my doubts on the matter. I send three males 

 and one female. I first met with this bird about twenty miles 

 beyond Tientsin, where the country abounded in woody planta- 

 tions. It was often to be found on the ground grubbing about 

 the millet roots, and its earth-stained bill gave tokens of frequent 

 insertion into the soil. If suddenly disturbed, it would utter a 

 screeching laugh, and fly off with a series of long undulations to 

 some distant tree, on which it would fix close to the roots and 

 immediately dodge round to the other side, clambering up all the 

 while with a short jerking motion of the body. It rarely ascended 

 into the upper branches, and seemed content with beating the 

 trunk of the tree only, unless the tree separated above into good 

 thick boughs. If the tree to which it next flew was only a few 

 yards off, the bird's flight consisted of a flutter in a direct line. 

 When arrived it would half turn on its back, as it were, and 

 throw up its claws to grasp firmly the bark. Its usual note was 

 sharp and monosyllabic, and differed much from that of its pied 

 brethren. It proved to be very common, and known to the 

 Chinese of the place as the "Tsaou-ta muh-tsze" or ''Tree- 

 injurer." It was very tenacious of life, and hard to kill. 



