THE ZOOLOaT OF SIBEEIA. 459 



tKe large well-marked Eastern variety (to say the least of it) of A. 

 ncevioides commonly called Aquila clangay after Pallas. Again 

 Herr Eadde's Falco vesper tinus var. amurensis, is a very curious 

 representative — (tectricibus subalarihus niveis) of our Erythropus 

 vesper tinus. The typical European form was met with as far east 

 as the Tunkinskian Steppe in Western Siberia, but not subsequently 

 seen until var. Amurensis appeared on the middle Amoor, where it is 

 very common, and nests abundantly on the islands in the river. 



The nocturnal birds of prey (Strigidae) have 10 representatives in 

 South-eastern Siberia. The Snowy Owl (Strix nyctea, Linn.) is very 

 abundant on the high steppes in winter. It arrives from the north 

 about the end of September, and remains until towards the end of 

 April, feeding principally upon the Piping-hares {Lagomys ogotond). 



Of the Swifts (Cypselidse) two species are found in South-eastern 

 Siberia — called by Herr Eadde Acanthylis caudacuta and Cypselus 

 apus. The first of these is perhaps rightly identified by our author with 

 the Australian species, and it was, doubtless, a straggler from Amoor- 

 land, the capture of which in England was recorded some years since,, 

 and which has caused the "Australian Spine-tailed Swift" to be 

 enrolled in the list of " British Birds." Under the last name, how- 

 ever, seem to have been confounded two species — the European 

 Cypselus apiis^ or a slight variety of it, and the smaller white-rumped 

 Chinese Swift, Cypselus vitiatiis, Jard. The latter bird, which might 

 well be expected to occur in Eastern Siberia, may be probably iden- 

 tical with C. australisy Gould, but is certainly quite different from 

 our C. apus. 



The only Goat- sucker met with in Amoorland and the adjacent 

 countries was Caprimulgus jotaka, described by Temminck from 

 Japan — an eastern representative of the European IE. europceus. 



Besides the common Cuckoo of this country {C. canorus) which is: 

 very abundant in South-eastern Siberia, two other species of this group 

 were met with. The first of these is referred by our author, follow- 

 ing von Schrenck, to the Guculus Sparvernoides — a well-known Hima- 

 layan species, but as stated by Mr. Swinhoe (P.Z.S. 1863, p. QQ) is 

 probably more correctly referable to the smaller C. fugax, Horsfield. 

 The other is identified (probably quite incorrectly) with Gould's 

 Australian C. optatus. It is nearly allied to C. canoi^us, but^ larger, 

 and with broader breast-bands ; and also readily distinguishable from 

 the common Cuckoo by its note, which is regular and ^-syllabled. 

 This Cuckoo first occurred on the upper Amoor in June, and was 

 very abundant in certain localities. 



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