408 Staff-Surg. K. H. Jones on Birds observed 



completed; at the same time I do not think that H. gutturalis 

 had eggs ; incubation, I am sure, had not commenced. 



Herring-Gulls, probably Larus vega, were fairly numerous 

 on the arm of the sea mentioned above. 



June 2nd. — To-day the line ran through Manchuria, and 

 the character of the country changed considerably, being 

 hilly and well wooded, chiefly with silver-birch trees and firs, 

 whilst rivers, though plentiful, were rather small and culti- 

 vation was scarce. Both species of Swallows were again 

 seen, but only at the stations on the line. Sparrows were 

 visible, but in much smaller numbers than yesterday. 



The Daurian Jackdaw (Corvvs dauricus) put in its first 

 appearance to-day, but I only saw one or two individuals. 

 Carrion-Crows [Corvus corone) were abundant, of Magpies 

 {Picus caudata) there was a fair sprinkling, and I saw a 

 few Streak -eyed Wagtails {Motacilla ocularis). Of Kites 

 T saw only one, Milvus melanoiis, but of Buzzards I observed 

 several, while in some places Marsh-Harriers were quite 

 numerous. Kestrels and Sparrow-Hawks were noticed, but 

 not in any numbers. 



The Eastern Ring-Dove [Turtur orientalist w^as seen 

 occasionally ; the birds were always in pairs. In the late 

 afternoon we ran into the large well-cultivated plain in 

 which stands the town of Harbin. Here Carrion-Crows 

 began to be scarce and the Eastern Rook (C. pastinator) put 

 in its first appearance. The Rooks were very numerous, while 

 their nests were observed on many of the trees near the line 

 and round the houses of the natives ; but I saw nothing at 

 all like a rookery, such as we know at home, perhaps from 

 the want of sufficient trees growing together in one place. 

 Magpies also increased considerably in numbers in this part 

 of the country, but I did not see many of their nests. 



June Srd. — In the morning we found ourselves in a rolling 

 grassy country, beautifully green, but with very few trees, 

 and apparently almost uniidiabited. Here I saw a few 

 Daurian Starlings [Sturnia siurnina), but only near the 

 stations, and here also I first noticed the Daurian Stonechats 

 {Pratincola maura) in great numbers and evidently breeding. 



