Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hainan. 83 



The birds observed here were Alauda ccelivox, Anthus cervinus, 

 Pipastes agilis, Het^rornis sinensis, Centropus affinis, Tartur 

 chinensis, besides a new Ixus and a new Arachnecthra. On the 

 pebbles of the beach we procured a solitary Grey-headed Wag- 

 tail, Budytes cinereocapillus. I further noticed an Osprey, a 

 Sea-Eagle, a Kestrel, and a Marsh-Harrier. The gunboat 

 moved at noon, and at 4 p.m. anchored in the outer harbour of 

 Nychow, and next morning the pirates were handed over to the 

 authorities. We spent from the 15th to the 19th March in this 

 glorious tropical region, visiting, feasting, and exploring, and 

 on the 20th began again to steer northwards, passing along the 

 west coast of Hainan. The 21st we spent at Tuntow, on the 

 borders of the Kangen and Changhwa districts, part of the 

 22nd and the 23rd at Hoitow in Tanchow district, the 25th to 

 27th at Heongpoo, also in the Tanchow district, losing two 

 days here on account of rainy and stormy weather. March 

 29th we explored at Haosuy in the Linkao district, and March 

 30th about Hungpe harbour, in the district of Chingmai. On 

 the 31st, we were back again at Hoihow, whence, after ex- 

 changing civilities with the authorities, and finishing the details 

 of our inquiries, we steered across, on the morning of the 3rd 

 of April, to the mainland opposite — the peninsula of Luichow, 

 and had a run on shore. The land beyond the beach is some- 

 what raised, and hedges and trees shelter the rice-fields behind. 

 Here, to my astonishment, I found Ixus sinensis, the common 

 Bulbul ; but among them occasionally occurred the black-capped 

 species of Hainan and Naochow. I also noted Gallinula phce- 

 nicura, Prinia sonitans, and Phylloscopus fuscatus. Along the 

 beach southwards I shot a Lobipes hyperboreus as he sat floating 

 about in a pool. Along the banks of a small creek that enters 

 from the sea, we saw large numbersof Totanus glottis andHiaticula 

 cantiana, and a flight of Wagtails [Motacilla ocularis) settling 

 for the night among the sands. The dirty weather compelled 

 us to anchor again under Naochow island on the 5tli of April, 

 and, in spite of the wind and drizzle, I got a long stroll with 

 my gun. We had already met the summer birds passing up 

 the western coast of Hainan; but Naochow was full of mi- 

 grants. I shot a female Erythrosterna mugimaki (T. & S.), 



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