on the Birds of South-eastern China. 195 



rate to the vicinity thereof. This is also the case with 

 Corvus torqnatus, and Crows and Kites not infrequently are 

 nesting neighbours, between whom considerable enmity 

 always exists. 



The eggs, either two or three in number, but never 

 more, are laid as early in the year as January but more 

 often in February or March. Thi«i species is not double 

 brooded. At the nest it is not demonstrative, unless it 

 has young, and then it may become very bold, and on one 

 occasion a Chinese climber was struck on the head by one 

 of these birds and blood was drawn by the blow. The 

 Chinese have been known to take the eggs for food. 



The eggs vary in length from 2*41 to 2*06, and in breadth 

 from 1-84 to 1-66, whilst they average 2-18 x 1-70. 



Pernis ptiloxorhvxchus. 



One specimen was obtained at Macao as it was going to 

 roost on a hill covered with trees, M'here tlie Kites often 

 resort for the night, 



Falco peregrinus. 



Faico communis Gm. ; Sharpe, Cat. B.jNI. i. p. STG. 



Peregrine Falcons are fairly common visitors in autumn, 

 winter and spring to Hong Kong, Macao, and the West River. 

 At Ilong Kong they never remain long, but at several 

 places on the West River they single out some island on 

 which to take up a permanent winter station. 



Some of these birds seem to live chiefly on Teal, but 

 others have been known to attack Pond Herons, and at one 

 place, a rocky point was white with their feathers. 



One was seen at Kwei Hsien in July, a pair up the 

 North River at the same time of the year, and a fourth at 

 the Great Rapids, in Kwang Si ; so that in favoured spots 

 this species may breed in south-eastern China. 



At Howlik a specimen was seen on April 23, by which 

 date most Peregrines have departed. 



Falco subbuteo. 



Tiie Hobby is a resident species on the West River and 

 inland generally, but on the coast it only occurs as a rather 



SER. X. VOL. I. p 



