the Lower Yangtse Basin. 353 



islets, I think they must have been travelling birds. I have 

 heard a Tree Sparrow singing — not very loud and not very 

 musically, but still a proper song, and not a mere Sparrow^s 

 chatter. 



120. Passer rutilans, Temm. 



(491.) A hill species. Scarce. I have obtained it at 

 Kiukiang in May and among the Chekiang Hills in March. 



121. EOPHONA MELANURA (Gm.). 



(500,) A common resident. Gregarious in winter. 



122. COCCOTHRAUSTES JAPONICUS, T. & S. 



(501.) '' Shanghai to Pekin " [Swinhoe), 



123. Chloris sinica (L.). 



(487.) This bird breeds at Kiukiang, where I have 

 obtained young and old birds in June. Most of them, how- 

 ever, leave in April and return in the autumn. In winter 

 they are found in flocks all over the hills up to 2000 feet, 

 but avoid the plains. A good songster. 



124. Chrysomitris spinus (Linn.). 



(485.) Found in flocks in winter as late as first week in 

 April. Prefers hilly country. 



125. Emberiza spodocephala, Pall. 



(475.) Very common all the winter, arriving in October 

 and leaving again in April. David (Ois. de la Chine, p. 330) 

 says that a few remain to breed ; but he doubtless confused 

 this species with the following. 



126. Emberiza melanops, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 554. 

 This species, which appears to be a perfectly good one, has 



been confused with E. spodocephala, and in the Cat. Birds 

 Brit. Mus. xiii. p. 523, Blyth's name is treated as a synonym. 

 It can be readily distinguished at all seasons by the greenish 

 tint of the upper parts, head, neck, throat, and chest, which 

 in the other species are grey, with a brownish wash. The 

 breast, belly, and under tail-coverts are bright sulphur-yellow, 

 and not, as in E. spodocephala, pale yellow verging into 

 white. The females may be also distinguished by the brighter 

 yellow tinge of the whole under surface. 



