1920.] Birds of Norlh-East Chihli. 633 



(J. Fregiliis graculus brachypus Swinlioe. 



Freyilas grucuJns vur. bradujpus Swinlioe, P. Z. S. ]871, 

 p. 383. 



FregUus graculus D. & O. p. 371 (part). 



Seven examples of the Short-toed Chough^ obtained iu 

 the mountains near Chinwangtao, measure as follows : — 



Five males. 



Winy 1M5-11-80 in. Average 11-47 in. 



Tarsus 1-75- 1-90 „ 1-83 



Middle toe without claw . . -94- 1-15 ,, 1*02 



Bill 1-90- 2-05 „ 2-00 



Two females. 



Wing lO-Oo-lO-SO in. 



Tarsus 1-G5- 1-72 



^Middle toe without claw . . -85- 1-00 



Bill 1-85- 2-00 



This bird is a common resident in the mountains of 

 north-east Chihli. A pair seen on the 2nd of May had 

 probably a nest with young. Two eggs, taken by a native 

 from a hole in the Great Wall abont the middle of April 

 ]9i7, were a good deal incubated. The ground-colour of 

 these eggs is whitCj and this is marked all over Avith specks 

 or irregular medium-sized spots of reddish brown over 

 violet-grey spots, the latter on the surface as well as within 

 the shell. There is a zone round the large end of the 

 eggs. The shape is ovate. They measure l'5J^xl'05 and 

 1-4.7 X 1-06 in. 



7. Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchus Brehm. 



Nucifragu caryocatactes D. & O. p. 372. 



Nucifraga leptorhxjnchus Seebohm, Ibis, 1888, p. 236. 



The Eastern Nutcracker inhabits Chihli, but is very rare 

 according to Perc David. Two undoubted inigrants were 

 shot in this vicinity in October 1911, one of which is in my 

 collection. I have another specimen shot in the Chien An 

 district in April 1912. This bird is a female in very pale 

 (probably faded) plumage. 



$ . Wing 7*30 in. ; white on outer rectrix 1*30 in. 

 ? . Wing 6*90 iu. (worn) ; white on outer rectrix 0'90 in. 



2u2 



