o)i Chmese Cage Birch. 295


escape, sometimes appear in the woods and gardens as stray

introductions.*


A very common and very favourite cage bird both north and

south in China is the Mongolian Lark, or Shantung Lark as the bird-

fanciers call it ( Melanocorypha mo7igolica).


This Lark is readily tamed, and is a beautiful singer. The

Chinese place the bird in a cage with a small pedestal in the centre,

and on this it sits, dropping its wings and spreading out its tail, to

give vent to its song. The song is very sweet, but compared with

that of a Skylark it is feeble.


Another very favourite Lark is Alauda ccelivox, and, unlike the

last, it is a common bird in the south of China. These birds also

are placed in little cages fitted with a pedestal, on which they mount

to sing.


The Chinese often take these little Larks into the country, and

there, removing the bottom of the cages placed upon the ground,

allow the inmates to pick up insects, etc., from the grass.


At times contests in singing are held between the birds, the

cages being put in close proximity and the inmates encouraged to sing

one another down.


A wild Lark of this species may also challenge a caged bird,

and a vigorous competition be thus instituted.


Cockatoos and various species of Parrots are very commonly

kept caged in Hong Kong and Canton, and now and again escape

into the country-side.


It has been surmised that the King-necked Parroquets

(Palceornis torquatus), now fairly common at Hong Kong, may have

been first thus introduced there. Canaries are also plentiful in the

fanciers’ shops and on the bird-shop sampans of the harbour, but

as these birds are not indigenous they do not seem to call for any

special mention.


There are, of course, many species which occur occasionally

as cage-birds in China, but the few above-mentioned constitute the

bulk of those commonly to be met with there.


* One sees some funny strays at Hong Kong. I've seen a pink and grey


Cockatoo on a tree in the R.N. Hospital, and I picked up a Mongolian Lark


(Melunocoryplui mongolica ) alive and well on my verandah there. I kept it a


long time in a cage and very tame it was.—K. H. J.



