368 Mr. R. Swinlioe on Chinese Ornithology. 



Teal (Eunetta falcata and E. formosa) , all about equally com- 

 mon. The Gadwall is sometimes exposed, but may be called 

 a somewhat rare Duck. It was not till nearly the end of 

 March that I saw the first Garganey ; and then they became 

 the commonest species in the market. The Sheldrake I saw 

 only on one or two occasions. The Mandarin Duck is also 

 brought for sale, but oftener alive than dead. Other Ducks 

 are very seldom brought alive ; and I could not induce the 

 marketmen to get me live samples of the species I sought, 

 though I offered tempting prices for them. The females of 

 the Pintail and the Widgeon rarely have the male-like specu- 

 lum on the wing — a fact which is not noted in YarrelFs 

 ' British Birds/ 



Of Geese Anser albifrons has been the commonest, then A. 

 segetum, then A. cygnoides (ferus). A. cinereus and A. ery- 

 thropus did not show at all. I found them last year in the 

 early winter. There have been also only a few Swans (Cygnus 

 bewicki), and no Cranes, but two or three Bustards (Otis 

 tarda) . 



In the first week in April the market was cleared of game 

 by order of the Municipal Council ; so now a few shore-birds 

 are all that one sees hanging up in a stall here and there. 

 Of these the most numerous have been the Dunlin, next the 

 large Stint (Tringa crassirostris) , and then the Knot (T. ca- 

 nutus), all in more or less summer plumage. The Limosa 

 uropygialis has also been brought in large numbers, some in 

 the unspotted winter coat, some with zigzag bands on the 

 underparts, apparently the intermediate plumage of early 

 spring, and some with bright yellowish-red underparts. The 

 males differ from the females in their much smaller size and 

 much shorter bills. I subjoin the measurements of the two : — 



Limosa uropygialis, Gould, 3 . Length 15*25 inches. Wing 

 9, surpassing tail by i an inch, 1^ longer than tertiaries. Tail 

 3 - 25, *9 longer than upper tail-coverts, '2 longer than under 

 tail-coverts, 1*1 shorter than tip of toe extended backwards — 

 of twelve rectrices, all equal, except the two centrals, which 

 are '2 longer than the rest. Bill recurved, 31 from forehead, 

 1*25 from gape ; basal portion flesh-coloured tinged with grey, 



