On Birds from West China. 289 



scale until it ends in a piercing scream, after which the bird 

 is silent for some minutes. One result is that in cover it is 

 difficult to localize the bird^ as it appears to approach at each 

 call. 



190 a. SyrniUiM newarense (Hodgs.). 

 A beautiful specimen of this fine Owl was collected at 

 Chinteh. 



203a. Spilornis cheela (Lath.). 

 Two obtained near Chinteh. 



319a. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). 



The Jack Snipe is a rare bird in China, and most birds 

 reported as such prove to be merely small Common Snipe. 

 It was therefore a pleasure to be presented with a veritable 

 " Jack " shot at Taitsan, near Shanghai, on 10th April. 



Note. — Chinteh lies on the south bank of the river, 15 miles 

 inland of Tungiiu, a small city close to the border of Kiangsi, 

 which is marked on most maps. It will be observed that 

 12 of these species came from the hills in this neighbour- 

 hood, and show a very close relationship between its avifauna 

 and that of Fohkien, lying directly south. In the latter 

 province all the above, except the Syrnium and Urosphena, are 

 common. 



XXL— On Birds from West China. By F. W. Styan. 



(Plate IV.) 



In June 1896 my two native collectors left Hankow by 

 steamer for Ichang, in Hupeh, about 1000 miles from the 

 mouth of the Yangtse. Thence they proceeded, on the south 

 of the river, about 100 miles to Patung, close to the border 

 of Sechuen, in which neighbourhood they remained, among 

 wooded hills of moderate height, until the end of September. 

 The season was very wet and the results were indifferent. 

 The specimens collected were mostly of common species in 

 poor plumage, the following being the most interesting : — 



