132 THE PEECHING BIRDS. 



G. brandli slightly btiiatecl. In both species the rufous colour is more 

 proiiouuced tliuu in the European bird. 



The nutcracker (Nticijraga canjocatactes) is one of the most con- 

 spicuous denizens of the forested regions of Shansi and Kansu. I have 

 not seen it in any of the other provinces. J^bout the size and shape 

 of the jackdaw, it is of a brown colour, with white spots on the head 

 and neck, black wings and black and white tail. Where it occurs at all 

 it is very plentiful, being a lively active bird. It is a great nuisance to 

 the hunter for it always discovers him, and gives warning to all the 

 game in the vicinity by cackling vigorously. Like all the other mem- 

 bers of the crow family it makes a most interesting pet, owing to its 

 superior intelligence and undoubted reasoning powers. 



Next to the crows come several birds, each the single represent- 

 ative of a different family. Of these the grey starling (Spodinpsar 

 cincraceus) is undoubtedly the commonest. This bird should be well 

 known to sportsmen in Tientsin, for it appears in large flocks during the 

 snipe season, and by making a noise similar to that of a snipe, which it 

 also somewhat resembles in flight and its way of getting up, often 

 deceives the beginner. It is about the same s.ize as the British star- 

 ing, but has a grey plumage with conspicuous patches of wliite on the 

 cheeks. The bill and legs are orange-yellow. It is a great nuisance to 

 fruit growers. 



The Daurian starlet (Stvrnina daurica) is a much smaller bird, 

 whch also passes through in large flocks to breed in Mongolia and 

 Southern Siberia. 



Another bird common in these parts, and also wherever there 

 are trees and marshes together, is the drongo {Bucliango atra). This 

 IS a bird with jet black plumage, a long tail, gracefully forked 

 at the end, and of the size of a thrush. It is known in India as the 

 kingcrow. Its food consists of butterflies and other insects, which it 

 dexterously catches in mid air. It keeps to the willows and other trees 

 that so frequently line marshes, canals and rivers in this country. 



The next species is the golden oriole (Oriohis indicvs), a bird with 

 the most strilcing plumage, and possessed of a wonderful voice. 

 TJie colour of the adult is a rich golden yellow intensified by jet black 

 on the wings and tail. A black band also occurs on the head, passing 

 from the base oB the beak, through the eye, to form a patch on the 

 back of the head and nape. The legs are iilumbeous, the beak pink, 

 and the eye bright red. Immature birds are of a green colour above, 

 striped on the under parts. 



