sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), all comparatively common, are trapped by the 
natives of the country and trained to the ancient and noble sport of falconry. 
The kestrel (Cerchneis tinnunculus), and the red-footed falcon (Erythropus vespertinus ) 
are abundant on every plain, whilst the fierce but somewhat clumsy buzzard 
(Buteo hemilasius) takes heavy toll of the hares, partridges, and ground squirrels 
of the broad valleys. 
Over the marshes the elegantly shaped hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) glides 
in its search for small aquatic fauna of all kinds, whilst occasionally the 
osprey (Pandion haliaetus), king of fishing hawks, visits the larger ponds and 
lakes. Here he may be seen circling high in the air, till some large fish coming 
to the surface, catches the marauder’s eye. Down he comes like a bolt from 
the blue, cleaves the surface of the placid waters, scattering wide the 
shimmering spray, and, burying his talons deep into the quivering flesh of his 
prey, carries it off to the nearest pinnacle of rock or lofty tree. 
Owls are represented by the five following species. The great eagle-owl 
(Bubo maximus), the long-eared owl (Otus vulgaris), the short-eared owl (Ofus 
brachyotus), the little owl (Athene plumipes), and the scops owl (Scops stictonotus). 
The last mentioned is somewhat rare and is found usually round old temples. 
The little owl may frequently be seen in the loess gullies and ravines of the 
foothills, or out on the plains, where some lofty hollow tree affords adequate 
shelter. 
The long-eared and short-eared owls are inhabitants of the plains, while 
the great eagle-owl frequents the highest and wildest mountains. 
Following the owls, I might mention the night-jar (Caprimulgus jotaka), a 
bird that is not often seen, but which inhabits the bush-covered slopes of the 
lower mountain ranges. At dusk on warm summer evenings it flits on 
noiseless wings over the hazel scrub and waving oatfields, chasing the large 
pink-winged grasshopper, which always seems more active and noisy at this 
time of the day. 
The nearest relative to the night-jar in North China is the white rumped 
swift (Cypselus pacificus) which appears rather late in the spring, rears it young 
in the hollow eaves of temples and gate-towers, and is away again long before 
the cold sets in. 
We may now take a rapid survey of the game birds of the country, and 
ornithologists must forgive me if I place pheasants, bustards, ducks, pigeons 
and snipe in one large category. 
Belonging to the phasianidae are some half dozen species, any of 
which may give the traveller welcome relief from the monotony of the long 
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