on the Birds of Suutli-eastern China. 169 



is not so loud and a good deal sweeter than that of the 

 Tree-Sparrow. The crops examined were full o£ rice- 

 grains. 



In January a large flock was noticed, so that apparently 

 the bird at times spends the winter on the West River. 



Both the Russet and Tree-Sparrow are sometimes seen 

 crowded together in the bamboo-cages of the Hong Kong 

 bird-shops. 



Emberiza. pusilla. 



The Little Bunting occurs during the winter, and on New 

 Year's Day, 1906, large numbers of these birds accompanied 

 by Otocompsa emeria in big flocks were found in the mulberry- 

 canes near Samshui. It was blowing from the northward 

 and very cold at the time. 



This species shews a far greater inclination for perching 

 on trees than most of the genus. 



Embkriza fucata. 



Painted Buntings are common winter visitors, and put 

 in an appearance as early as the first week in September, 

 when they betake themselves to the paddy-fields and live 

 luxuriously on rice. About the third week in April and on 

 until the end of the first week in May they begin to move 

 off" to the north, by which time they are in good feather and 

 much brighter in plumage than in the winter. 



Embertza aureola. 



The Rice-bird is an extremely abundant species on the 

 spring and autumn migration ; it passes through all the part 

 of China under consideration, bnt does not stay for the 

 winter. It arrives about October 12 and remains nntil 

 the end of the month, and on the return journey it comes 

 about April 19 or 20. 



These little birds are much prized, as dainties, and ai'e 

 caught in vast numbers by professional bird-catchers, who 

 use precisely the same sort of clap-nets and call-birds as 

 their confreres in England. Immense numbers are caught 



