on the Birds of South-Easieni China, 35 



mentioned. The bird was quite silent, and its crop was full 

 of insect-remains. It was rather far to the eastward of its 

 habitual range, and may be considered a very unusual winter 

 visitor. 



Pericrocotus roseus. 



This Minivet is a summer visitor to the Kwang: Tun": 

 coast and the West River, but, as a general rule, it does 

 not stay to breed in Hong Kong or the Kowloon Peninsula. 

 The earliest arrivals come in about the first week in April, 

 and by the middle of that month there are a great many, 

 chiefly in pairs. 



Their screeching is unmistakable and is only practised 

 when they are in the air. When, as happened at one 

 locality, there are some superfluous unpaired males, the 

 latter attach themselves to one of the pairs, and all three can 

 be seen flying together screaming. 



On one occasion when young were about, a male of this 

 species was observed to sham being wounded and to fall a 

 distance of thirty feet into the mulberry-canes. 



At times this bird may be seen to perch lengthwise on a 

 bough instead of across in the usual manner. 



Nest-building commences about the third week in April, 

 and eggs can be found all through May and sometimes in 

 June and July, but it is doubtful whether a second brood is 

 often attempted. The nest is a beautiful structure, small for 

 the size of the bird, and, although not carefully hidden, most 

 difficult to see ; it is placed sometimes on an upright fork and 

 sometimes on a horizontal limb, but never mnch more than 

 thirty feet from the ground and often a great deal less. 



The birds themselves, however, prefer the tops of the 

 highest trees. Banyans and firs are rather favourite trees 

 for nesting-operations. 



The eggs are usually three, but four have been found. 

 They are of a greenish- white colour, spotted rather 

 sparingly all over with ashy, yellowish, and purplish brown, 

 chiefly round the larger end ; the markings may be massed 

 together and over-spotted with darker brown. 



d9 



