Nesting of Birds in Fokkien. 59 



Coturnix japonica Cassin. 



Rickett's collector shot a Quail one spring near Foochow, 

 and took from the oviduct an egg which measured 1 '05 X *85 in. 

 The shell was somewhat rough and pure white. The bird was 

 not preserved, but was probably of this species. 



Arboricola ricketti Grant. 



We have not yet taken the eggs of this common species 

 in Central Fohkien. 



Francolintjs chinensis (Briss.). 



Common on the low wooded hills around Foochow. 



We have made no attempt to obtain the eggs, for the 

 same reason that we do not wish to encourage the taking of 

 Pheasants'' eggs. 



TlTRNlX BLANFORDI Blytll. 



This is no doubt a resident, but its skulking habits render 

 it hard to observe, and therefore, as Styan says, it seems 

 much scarcer than it really is. 



Amaurornis fuscus (Linn.) : Ibis, 1892, p. 494 {Porzana 

 erythrothorax) . 



Five eggs average 1*19 X '90 in. On Sept. 13th Rickett had 

 two newly hatched young brought to him. They resembled 

 those described in the l Ibis ' as cited above. La Touche has 

 a clutch of ten eggs which he doubtfully refers to this species. 

 They are cream-coloured, with fine specks and small spots 

 of burnt-sienna over violet underlying specks. They vary 

 in shape from ovate to oval, with more or less pointed 

 ends. 



They average 127 X 93 in.: the largest l-30x - 96, the 

 smallest 1-21 x -90. 



Amaurornis phcenicurus (Forst.). 



Common in the rice-fields and swampy spots about Foochow 

 in summer, and occasionally to be met with in winter. 



We have obtained eggs in the end of April and all through 

 May. They are of a more or less deep tint of cream-colour, 

 spotted and speckled with burnt-sienna and violet over under- 



