560 Mr. J. D. D. La Toucbe on the 



XXXV. — The Spring Migration at Chinwangtao in North- 

 ■East Chihli. By J. D. D. La Touche, M.B.O.U. 



[The following paper, containing a report on migration in northern 

 China, was prepared by Mr. La Touche for the British Ornithologists' 

 Club, and is a continuation of a previous record of observations in the 

 Island of Shaweishan pubhshed in the Bulletin of the Club, vol. xxix. 

 1912, pp. 124-160. The Committee of the Club, however, consider that 

 long ariicles such as these are out of place in the Bulletin, and have, 

 therefore, handed over the present report to us for publication in the 

 pages of 'Tlie Ibis.' The report has been revised and arranged by 

 Mr. C. B. Rickett, and to him our best thanks are due for the trouble 

 he has taken in the matter. — Ed.] 



Introduction. 



Chinwangtao is situated on the north-east coast of Chihli, 

 inside the entrance to the Gulf of Liautung — 39° 55' N. by 

 119° 38' E. The Island, or peninsula rather, as it is con- 

 nected with the mainland by the railway embankment and 

 by a causeway enclosing a large pond much frequented by 

 wildfowl during the migration season^ is separated from the 

 dunes of the nortli-east beach by a narrow tidal creek, which 

 was dug some thirteen years ago to provide an outlet to the 

 small stream which originally had its mouth at the north-west 

 corner of the then peninsula, now blocked by the above 

 mentioned embankment. There is no doubt that Chin- 

 wangtao was originally an island, and that when the sea 

 receded, probably not many hundred years ago, it remained 

 a rocky headland, breaking as at present the curve of the 

 bay that extends from the ruins of the Great Wall of China 

 on the shores of Shanhaikuan to the well-known Foreign 

 summer settlement of Peitaiho. The island is about midway 

 between these two localities. The mountains, which run 

 north-east and south-west, are about four or five miles from 

 the sea at Shanhaikuan and some twelve miles at Chin- 

 wangtao, the plain gradually widening, until a little beyond 

 the Luan River it merges into the great eastern plain of 

 Chihli. 



The climate of Chingwangtao is extremely dry and bracing. 



