G72 Staff-Surgeon K. II. Jones oyi B'rrJs 



The first clutches of eggs have been taken about the 

 middle of April, and as fresh eggs are still obtainable until 

 the middle of June, there is little doubt that this species is 

 double-brooded in Shantung, The usual clutch is four, 

 rarely there are five, but not infrequently three. 



The young have blackish down and an orange gape. 



Mr. Dresser states, in the 'Manual of Palgearctic Birds,' 

 that the song of this species is said to be of a high order. 

 An indifferent and feeble imitation of that of the Skylark 

 would perhaps better describe it. 



This bird does not often soar, and still more rarely sings 

 when so doing. Usually Pallas's Desert-Lark sings when 

 upon the ground, and in the breeding-season the male may 

 be seen running rapidly up and down and round about its 

 mate, with wings and tail outstretched, and the feathers on 

 the nape elevated, singing furiously. 



The earliest date on which eggs were taken is April 15th 

 and the latest June 17th. 



The average of seventy-tlu'ce eggs is '77 x "59 iach,and they 

 vary from "85 to '70 in length and from •62 to "S^ in width. 



The eggs have been elsewhere described, but it may not 

 be out of place to remark that they vary greatly in ap- 

 pearance, even in the same clutch. The majority are of a 

 greenish-white ground-colour, generally profusely spotted 

 and speckled with markings of brownish or yellowish, so 

 that some bear a certain resemblance to those of the Sedge- 

 Warbler. 



In shape most eggs are blunt ovals. Specimens shewing 

 a zone of markings at the junction of the middle and upper 

 thirds are fairly common, but those with bold markings at 

 considerable intervals are rare. 



Sturnus poltorat skyi. 



A Starling, which appears to belong to this subspecies, 

 occurred in small numbers at Wei Hai Wei. 



Pica rustica. 



]\lagpies occur plentifully in and about Wei Hai Wei, as 

 indeed they do almost everywhere in China. In the summer 



