408 Capt. II. R. Davies on Birds 



XXIX. — Field-notes on some Birds observed in Western 

 China. By Capt. H. R. Davies *. 



Phasianus elegans (Cat. B. xxii. p. 329). 



Stone's Pheasants are common in Western Yunnan. They 

 are not usually found much below 4000 feet^ and are most 

 plentiful near the tops of the ranges at an altitude of from 

 6000 to 8000 feetj in long grass and fern, or in fir-woods. I 

 have usually met with them singly or two together, but on 

 one occasion I saw a covey of ten. The crow of this bird 

 is hardly distinguishable from that of the English Pheasant, 

 and the noise the cock makes when ilushed is also the same. 

 I have not often seen it in the Tibetan part of the country 

 (W. Szechuen), though I shot one a few marches south-west 

 of Li-tang at 10,500 feet. 



Chrysolophus amheksti^ (Cat. B. xxii. p. 342). 



In Yunnan this species is about as common as the last- 

 mentioned, and is found at fairly high elevations, usually in 

 forest. It is difficult to make individuals fly, and. when they 

 rise they do so without crowing and with very little noise of 

 the wings. They appear to be " soft '' birds, very easily killed. 

 The note is a peculiar rasping sound. Specimens were 

 obtained in W. Yunnan at 7000 feet, and in Kweichow 

 at 7700 feet. 



Ithagenes GEOFFROYi (Cat. B. xxii. p. 269). 

 This Blood-Pheasant is common in many parts of N.W. 

 Yunnan and W. Szechuen. 



* [The following- interestiug iield-iiotes are contributed by Captain H. 

 E. Davies, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, and are based on observations made 

 during two journeys in Western China — the first in 1898-99 in the 

 Northern Shaa States and Yunnan ; the second in 1899-1900 along the 

 western borders of Yunnan and Szechuen, and thence eastward to the 

 Yaugtse. 



Specimens of all the birds except the Crossoptilon and Francolin have 

 been received and identified, and as regards these there can be little 

 doubt to what species they belong.— F. W. Styan, Shanghai.] 



