THE PERCHING BIRDS. 141 



The dipper is represented in North China by Cinclus pallasi, an 

 uniformly dark olive-brown bird, which is found in Shensi. It may 

 be seen along the streams in the rocky bottoms of the deep loess 

 ravines, where it builds its nest under the overhanging ledges. It 

 can dive well, from which fact it gets its name of dipper. I have never 

 come across it elsewhere than in Shensi. 



The wren (Anothura fumigata) is another bird found in the deep 

 ravines. Its range is, however, much wider than that of the dipper, 

 extending all over the mountainous districts of North and Central 

 China. 



Included in the list o soft billed birds are the timelines, an in- 

 teresting group of birds characterized by their short rounded wings and 

 their large broad tails. They are related to the mocking bird, and are 

 also known as babblers. 



The commonest of these is known as Pterorhirvus davidi. This is 

 a lively bird of an uniform dark olive-brown, with a slight suggestion 

 of a blue metallic sheen on the long wing feathers. It is one of the 

 commonest birds of the mountainous regions,; and is gifted with no 

 mean vocal powers. It may be seen in flocks of six or seven playing 

 about in the underbrush, or scratching in the dried leaves' and grass for 

 food. It is essentially a brush bird, keeping entirely to the undergrowth 

 and low shrubs, and never perching on the tall trees. It builds its nest 

 in the dense thorn scrub in ravine bottoms. 



A much smaller bird of the same type, and with similar habits is 

 the Rhopophilus pekinensis. This bird frequents the same localities as 

 the foregoing species. It is more prettily marked, however, having a 

 white breast with chestnut streaks. It has a proportionately longer tail. 



Pomatorhinus gravivox is another timeline, which is not only a 

 very handsome bird, but has an unusually sweet song. It is olive-brown 

 on the back, with chestnut forehead, cheeks and belly. The throat and 

 breast are white spotted with black. I have only come across it in 

 Shensi, where it is rather rare. 



In Shensi, also occur two other /timelines. One of these, Trocha- 

 lopteron ellioti, is about the same size as Pterorhmus davidi, and is of 

 a similar general colour. The wings, however, are washed withi more 

 intense metallic blue, and the tail with a brassy yellow sheen. The 

 other, Dryonastcs pcrspicillatus, is the largest of the five, with' dull 

 plumage. These last two species do not appear to occur north of 

 the Wei valley, and may be said to belong more to the avi-fauna of 

 Central China. 



