280 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
Hypsipites amaurotis T. & S. Temm. et Schl., Faun. Japon, 1847, Aves, pl. xxxi 
B., p. 68; Blakiston, Ibis, 1862, p.320; Whitely, Ibis, 1867, p. 199; Swinhoe, 
Ibis, 1874, p.158; Blakiston and Pryer, Trans. As, Soc. Japan, Vol. X, Pt. I, 
p. 163; Brit. Mus. Cat., Vol. VI, p. 42. 
‘‘Screechers” are exceedingly abundant in every locality in which I 
have collected. 
They are very gifted vocalists, and have a wide range of mimicking 
notes, reminding one at times of our own mocking thrushes. They have 
no notes so sweet as our thrushes, and their vocabulary is varied with 
the voice of the purple grackle and the discordant notes of the jay. 
They are caught in large numbers in Shinshiu in a very peculiar 
manner. Decoys, of their own species, are placed in cages in a grove 
of trees, generally on top of a hill, and about 15 or 20 feet apart; close 
by is a horizontal twig, birdlimed, on the end of which is a bunch of at- 
tractive berries. A few inches below the twig a net is spread, about 10 
inches wide at the top, and 18 inches deep. The birds, attracted by the 
calls of their mates in the cages, and the seductive berries, alight on 
the twigs, and, feeling the lime, attempt to throw themselves off by drop- 
ping down backwards, and generally fall in the net. If they fall on 
the ground, they have so much birdlime on them that they are easily 
caught. 
In the autumn these birds fly in large flocks, and as many as thirty 
or forty are caught in a morning by one man. 
List of specimens. 
| 
Oniginal | ‘Museum Locality. | Date. | 
| 
number. | number. Sex. | Remarks. 
~ | | ae See Se = rs 
502 88664 ¢g ad. | Fuji-Yama .... .........--- July 13,1882 Iris reddish brown. 
729 91325 | ? ad. | Tate-Yama, Shinshiu ....... | Oct. 28, 1882 
Pratincola maura Pall. Blakiston, Ibis, 1862, p. 318; Whitely, Ibis 1867, p 197; 
Swivhoe, Ibis, 1874, p. 155; Blakiston and Pryer, Trans. As. Soc. Japan, Vol. 
X, Pt. I, 1882, p.162; Brit. Mus. Cat., Vol. IV, p. 188. 
Common in the long grass of the hillsides around Fuji. Breeding in 
June; fully fledged young taken early in July. These birds are often 
seen on the tops of the grass stems or small bushes, and utter a sharp 
clicking note when approached. Although not shy, they are very wary, 
and rapidly make their way through the thick grass, appearing and dis- 
appearing on all sides. 
Young in first plumage are much streaked and spotted above with dusky 
and pale buff. All the feathers of the crown and nape with narrow buffy 
webbings. Back with arrow-shaped buff centers to the tips of the feathers ; 
upper tail coverts brownish. Wings and tail dusky, the latter tipped 
and edged with brownish. Secondaries and wing coverts broadly edged 
with brownish; innermost wing coverts white. Chin, breast, and belly 
pale buff; throat dirty white. The feathers of the breast much edged 
and mottled with dusky. 
