BIRDS— REPTILES— FISHES 2 3 7 



Among the few birds of the Chinese province of which space allows 

 mention, one of the most characteristic is the mandarin-duck (/Ex 

 galerita), a near ally of the summer-duck (jE. sponsa) of North America, the Asiatic 

 species being the most brilliantly coloured member of the family on that continent. 

 Both kinds nest in the hollows of trees. Among the geese may be mentioned the 

 swan -goose (Cygnopsis cygnoides), the largest of the living geese, from which 

 many of the domesticated geese of the east are derived. The stateliest of the 

 cranes is the Manchurian species (Grus viridirostris). Pheasants abound in this 

 tract, among these being the gorgeous golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) and 

 its near relative, the still more handsome Amherst's pheasant (G. amherstice). The 

 Turkoman eagle-owl (Bubo turcomanus) is a larger and paler representative of the 

 great eagle-owl of Europe. Lastly, the Asiatic blue-winged magpie (Cyanopica 

 cyanea) is remarkable on account of the great distance by which its habitat is 

 separated from that of its only relative, the Spanish species. 

 Alligators and The resemblance to American types exhibited by some of the 



salamanders, mammals of north-eastern Asia is paralleled by the existence in China 

 of an alligator (Alligator sinensis) which inhabits the Yang-tsi River, and is 

 closely allied to the Mississippi species. Despite the fact that two living examples 

 were exhibited in London in 1890, the Chinese alligator, first brought in modern 

 times to European notice in 1870, appears to be rare in collections. It seems, 

 however, that the existence of the species was known to Marco Polo and Father 

 Martini, who published a Chinese atlas in the year 1656 at Amsterdam, although in 

 neither case was a specimen seen. According to Martini, the river at Chingkiang 

 was infested by these reptiles, which were a terror to the populace. A specimen 

 seen in the early part of 1869 was carried about the city of Shanghai as a dragon 

 by a party of Chinese; but it was not till 1879 that the species was scientifically 

 described on the evidence of one specimen from the Yang-tsi at Wuhu, and a second 

 at Chingkiang, and was definitely recognised as a true alligator akin to the 

 Mississippi species, the other well-known representative of the genus. Alligators 

 occur, however, in the Tertiary strata of Europe, and these explain the distribution 

 of the existing forms, one of which may have travelled to America by way of 

 Bering Strait. So far as is known, the distribution of the Chinese species seems 

 to be restricted to a small area in the Yang-tsi Valley. The giant salamander 

 (Megalobatrachus maximus), the largest living member of its tribe, is an inhabitant 

 of the fresh waters of China and Japan, and attains a length of about 40 inches. 

 Curiously enough, this huge amphibian is frequently found in clear mountain- 

 streams not above a foot or so in width, where it lies curled up among the stones. 

 Its flesh is a favourite article of diet with the Chinese. Special mention must be 

 made of the occurrence in Siam of a salamander of the genus Amblystoma, of 

 which the other seventeen members are American. 

 Domesticated Although it is impossible to allude to the fishes of the rivers of 



Fishes. th e area un( l er consideration, brief reference may be made to the 

 golden carp, as being a domesticated breed of the Chinese crucian carp notable for 

 its variation in colour. Some of these fish are golden yellow with a metallic gloss, 

 others bright red, and others again black ; while there are yet other colour- 

 variations, one of which is piebald, and a second silvery white. Besides these 



