634 Mr. J. D. D. La Touche on the [Ibis, 



8. Pica caudata sericea Gould. 

 Pica canddta D. & O. p. 87.3. 



Magpies arc, as elsewlicre in China, very abundant. 

 In November they associate in large flocks, and probably 

 many wander down to the south-west, as the birds Avhich 

 frequented the port at that season liad the appearance o£ 

 travelling birds. 



I am unable to see any notable dift'erence between the 

 Magpies of this part of Cliihli and those from Foochow in 

 south-east China, except that there is perhaps a little more 

 white on the primaries on average in the northern birds. 



Early in Marcli 1917 a large party ofc' Magpies appeared 

 at the port and remained throughout the spi'ing. One pair 

 remained to breed. I received fresh eggs on the 11th of 

 jNIay from the mountains nortli of Chinwangtao. 



9. Cyanopica cyana interpositor Hartert. 

 Cyanopolius cijunus D. & O. p. 374, pi. 84. 



Cyanopica cyanus interposita Hartert, Nov. Zool. vol. 

 xxiv. p. 493, Dec. 1917. 



The north China Azure-winged INIagpie appears to be 

 common in the Chien An district, from which locality I have 

 several examples. It is abu.ndant in the plain round Peking, 

 but I have only seen one specimen from the Chinwangtao 

 country, which was shot at the beginning of June 1917, 

 about 30 miles north of that port. 



Specimens fiom Chien An differ from the. Lower Yangtse 

 birds in having the back lilac-grey, wing 5'85 in. 'J'hose 

 from the latter locality have the back sandy lilac, wing5'55 in. 



10. Urocissa erythrorhyncha, (Gm.). 

 Urocissa sinensis D & O. p. 375, pi. 83. 



The Chincse*Blue Alagpie is common in copses and woods 

 in the hilly parts of north-eiist Chihli. 



A clutch of four eggs brought to me from the hills on tlie 

 29th of May, 1917, Avas fresh, two of four and five eggs 

 respectively received on the loth of June were nearly fresh, 

 and others receiveil on the 25t]i of June and three eggs on 

 the 2nd of July were hard-sat, halt' incubated, or fresh. 



