On the Birds of Peking. 19 



II. — Notes on the Birds of Peking. 

 By Capt. H. A. Walton, Indian Medical Service. 



The following notes are not intended to serve as a complete 

 list of the birds of Peking ; they are founded on a collection 

 that I made there whilst a member of the British Contingent, 

 China Field Force, from August 1900 to July 1901. In the 

 early part of that period the country around Peking was in 

 too disturbed a state, and for the last three months I had too 

 much professional work on hand, to allow me to devote 

 much time to ornithology ; but during the winter I collected 

 more or less regularly. 



Quite a large proportion of the birds were obtained within 

 the city, in the grounds surrounding the Temple of Heaven, 

 where the regiment to which I was attached was quartered. 

 These grounds form a large park-like enclosure of many 

 acres, in which are several groves of trees. The place is 

 much frequented by birds of all kinds, especially during the 

 seasons of migration. 



The country around Peking is a vast plain, and is prac- 

 tically all under cultivation. I found that the best spots 

 for observing and collecting birds were the plantations round 

 the numerous small cemeteries that are scattered among 

 the fields. Another good place was a considerable area of 

 marshy ground just inside the city wall, in the south-east 

 corner of the Chinese city. Here there were a number of 

 ponds surrounded by reed-beds, which were the resort ofi 

 many Ducks and other water-birds, though the reeds were 

 so thick and high that it was not always easy to retrieve 

 the birds when shot. The best places for Ducks and Snipe 

 within reach of Peking are the large lakes at the Summer 

 Palace. The water is, however, very open and the birds 

 most wary. 



The climate of Peking presents great contrasts of heat 

 and cold. During the march, in August, from Tientsin to 

 the relief of the Legations, the temperature was frequently 

 as much as 105° Fahr. in the shade. During December, 

 January, and February the cold was intense ; the rivers and 



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