observed in the Vicinity of Jlei Hui JVei. G87 



large flights of tliese birds came to Slii Tao, where they 

 establislied themselves on the mud-flats^ and where, contrary 

 to their usual custom, they proved, at any rate at first, un- 

 commonly tame. They did not remain long, however, on the 

 mud; but took to the grass, where they at once became as 

 wary as they are elsewhere. 



Near Kymiug Island, on the sandy grassy flats near the 

 coast, for several days a flock o£ these birds was seen, but 

 they were very wild and never came within shot. This was in 

 the second week of August, so that their period for autumn 

 migration is considerably extended. 



Squatarola helvetica. 



Grey Plovers were found in some numbers at Shi Tao 

 during the first half of October. No large flocks were seen, 

 but parties of three or four birds were frequently met with 

 on the mud-flats, and were decidedly tame. It was thought 

 that the maiu body of migrants had either passed to the 

 south or had yet to come. 



Many specimens still retained a great deal of black on 

 tiie breast. 



^GIALITIS CANTIANA. 



The Kentish Plover is one of the commonest breedinor- 

 birds on the sandy wastes which border the Yellow Sea and the 

 Gulf of Pechili in so many parts of Shantung Promontory, 

 and most of the observations on this species were made on 

 the flats between Wei Hai Wei and Chefoo. 



On the flat tracks of sand which a retreating sea leaves 

 behind it, these birds breed in thousands and gave me ample 

 opportunities of studying their habits, for they are very 

 tame. This form of the Kentish Plover is considered to be 

 subspecilically distinct from that which occurs in AVcstcru 

 Europe ; but it does not seem to Mr. Dresser to be separable. 

 Probably this bird breeds in suitable localities all down the 

 coast of China, for La Touchc reports eggs from as far south 

 as Swatow; it was observed al)out Hong Kong at the end 

 of May. 



During September, so far as is known, all birds of this 



