CHAPTER XL 



BIRDS OF NORTH CHINA — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY. 



T^HE provinces of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu through which the expedition 



passed are comparatively rich in feathered inhabitants, though there 

 seems to be little, if any, likelihood of new discoveries being made in this line. 

 Birds being easily collected owing to their diurnal habits and conspicuousness, 

 are naturally the first to be studied by naturalists in a new country. For 

 these reasons, it was decided that I should devote my energies more especially 

 to mammals. 



As, however, there are many interesting features attached to the study of 

 birds in a new country, especially during the migratory seasons, a chapter 

 dealing with those noticed on the expeditions may not be out of place in this 

 volume. 



Space will not permit of a very detailed treatment of the subject, and I 

 shall do little more than give the names of the birds, mention their haunts and 

 breeding-places, and describe the general appearance of the more remarkable 

 species. 



In North China, as in all other north temperate regions, birds belonging 

 to the great order of Passeres (perching birds) predominate. Crows, larks, 

 finches, wagtails, flycatchers, or thrushes are met at every turn. Let us take 

 the family Corvidse (crows) as a starting point. During some years of travel 

 in the six northern provinces of China, I have noted some twelve species 

 belonging to this family. The raven [Corvus corax), carrion crow {Corvus corone), 

 white necked crow {Corvus torquatus), black crow [Corvus sinensis), Chinese 

 jackdaw {Coloeus dauuricus), rook {Frugilegus pastinator), and chough [Graculus 

 graculus), are common everywhere. Closely related to the black and white 

 Chinese jackdaw (Cb/o^w5 dauuricus), is an entirely black variety [Coloeus neglectus) 

 which is somewhat rare in the north. It may sometimes be seen in company 

 with the former. 



In some provinces, the raven acts as scavenger in towns and villages, but 

 usually it prefers the high mountainous districts or remote desert regions. 

 Amongst the Chinese who live on the borders of the Ordos Desert and out in 

 north-western Kansu, this evil-looking bird goes by the name of "The Mongol's 

 Coffin," That it deserves this name may be gathered from the fact that the 



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