1870. } MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE ZOOLOGY. 435 
of a deep yellowish brown or fawn-colour, spotted all over with large 
spots of white. As they grew older the spots began to disappear, and 
the hair to grow longer and browner. When I left Peking in October 
scarcely a trace of spots was left, and the animals were steadier on 
their legs, but still gawky and awkward. I congratulate the Society 
on haying got buck and doe both safe and alive in the Gardens. 
Fairs are held twice a week at different temples in the city, and 
are attended by large numbers of well-dressed people. The booths 
are neatly got up; and there is always a good display of toys, nick- 
nacks, and flowers ; but I did not see much to attract in the bird line. 
A few of the Chinese pet-birds were offered for sale, and these either 
young or in bad plumage. Some are shown in cages, others attached 
by a slipstring to a stick with a metal point at its end for planting 
in the ground or in a flower-pot. One of their curiosities was an 
albino Lanius bucephalus. 
On the 25th of July I observed that all the Swifts that were 
breeding in the roofs of the various buildings in the legation had 
cleared out their young and deserted their nest-holes. In passing 
the western gates of the Chinese city, of the thousands that swarmed 
like bees round their turrets a few weeks ago not one was to be seen 
on the 28th of July. In the morning and evening many still sported 
about at this date in the air over the legation grounds. The young 
leave their nests without any loitering or trying of wings; but for 
some time their parents feed them on the wing. The old birds are 
fond of screeching as they fly, especially in cloudy weather. Heavy 
rain closed July ; and on the return of fine weather (8th of August) 
not a Swift was to be seen; the myriads that swarmed in the air of 
Peking during the fearful dry heat of July had all disappeared. 
This accounts for my not having met with them on my former visit 
to Peking in the autumn of 1860; they had left before we arrived. 
No House-martin (Chelidon) frequents the city; and I only once 
saw a couple passing over when out on a trip inthe country. H- 
rundo gutturalis, Scop., and H. daurica, Pall., are the only Swallows 
that court the protection of the Pekinese householders, while Cotyle 
riparia (L.) enlivens their river-banks. The Swift is closely allied to 
our home friend Cypselus apus, L., but differs sufficiently to be 
distinguished as an Eastern race :— 
CyPsELUS PEKINENSIS, Sp. nov. 
Back, nape, and underparts as in C. apus, the white on the throat 
more extended. Crown, rump, tail, and wings light brown with a 
slight coppery-pink gloss. Primary coverts, shafts of quills, and 
outer webs of wing-primaries blackish. Forehead very pale, with a 
whitish upper edge to the black patch in front of the eye. 
3. Length 7 inches ; wing 7; tail 3, depth of fork 1; wing reach- 
ing beyond tail 1-2. Legs deep purplish brown, with black claws. 
Inside of mouth flesh-colour, with a purplish tinge, especially in 
lower jaw. Skin round eye and bill blackish brown tinged with 
purple. Iris bright brownish black. Judging by the bareness of 
the breast and belly, both male and female sit on the nest. 
