GG4 Staff-Surgeon K. II. Jones on Birds 



This Wagtail breeds commonly at Wei Hai Wei and Slii 

 TaOj and very often places its nest in tlie crevice of a rock on 

 tlie seashore, but sometimes among herbage in a nullah. 

 At all times, however, this species displays a great liking 

 for the vicinity of the sea. The nest is made of grass and 

 lined with finer grass or horsehair. The earliest date fur 

 eggs is April 25tli and the latest May 19th. 



Four or five is the usual number of eggs in a clutch, but 

 six were found on one occasion. The eggs are of two types, 

 a brownish grey and a greenish grey. Twenty-six eggs 

 from Shantung average '79 x -57 inch, and vary in length 

 from "89 to*73 inch and in width from 'o3 to "01 inch. 



MoTACII.LA OCULARIS. 



This Wagtail occurs on passage, and was observed in 

 September. 



MoTACILLA MELANOPE. 



The Grey Wagtail occurs abunda)itly on migration at 

 Wei Hai Wei. As many as eighty birds were seen in one 

 flock, opposite to Kyming Island, on September 14th. 



Whilst sheltering from a northerly gale, behind a sand- 

 baidi off Taku, many of these birds came on board and 

 ])roved very useful in catching and eating the large blue- 

 bottle flies which sw^nrmed all over the ship to our great 

 discomfort. This was during the first week of September. 



OkIOLUS INDICUS. 



Swinhoe met with this Golden Oriole at Chcfoo during 

 the summer montlis, and thought that it might breed there. 

 It was observed once in June to the westward of Wei Hai Wei, 

 so that Swinhoe may be correct. The great majority of 

 these birds were seen on migration and particularly at 

 North-East Promontory, where they were abundant during 

 the first week of September. 



At Leu Kung Tao this species was only noticed once, also 

 in September. ]Most of the birds seen at North-East 

 Promontory were immature, evidently the progeny of those 

 which had bred further to tlic north. 



