Ornithological Notes from Japan. 129 



young birds. The large proportion of spotted birds seems 

 to shew that this plumage is kept for a long time. 



This bird utters a plaintive tremulous whistle, which the 

 natives articulate as '' mbofio," with the last vowel prolouged. 

 This is one of the commonest sounds of the dark, lonely 

 forest.— G. L. B.] 



V. — Ornithological Notes front Japan. 



By CoLUNGWOOD IXCJKAM, M.B.O.U. 



(Plate IV.) 

 I. Introduction. 



The observations incorporated in the following paper are 

 the outcome of my second visit to Japan, in the early 

 summer of 1907. Reaching Nagasaki on April 20th of 

 that year, I at once hastened to the capital, where I wished 

 to apply to the government as soon as possible for a special 

 permit to collect birds — the legitimate shooting-season 

 having been already closed, on April 15tli. But it was only 

 after three weeks of tedious correspondence and many 

 lengthy ititerviews that the necessary permission was granted, 

 an unforeseen delay that prevented me from doing any real 

 work until the second week of May. Although poaching 

 and illicit shooting are rampant almost everywhere in Japan, 

 a permit is quite needful for the foreign collector, whose 

 movements, especially in the country districts, are naturally 

 followed by the inhabitants with curious interest. 



After spending a week or so in the vicinity of Kioto and 

 Nikko I ultimately left Tokio for the slopes of Fujiyama ou 

 May 14th. At the recommendation of Mr. Owston the 

 village of Subashiri, on the eastern slope of that mountain, 

 was chosen as my head- quarters. In this neighbourhood I 

 stayed for nearly thi^ee weeks and with the able assistance 

 of one, and sometimes two or more Japanese collectors, 

 worked the country very carefully for a radius of some 

 eight or nine miles round the village, at times reaching 

 elevations of 5000 ft. or even more. However, it was still too 



i;EK. IX. VOL. J I. K 



