140 THE PEIICHING BIllDS. 



The black redstart is entirely black except for the belly, rump and 

 tail which are of a bright chestnut-red colour. This species occurs only 

 in the more secluded valleys and ravines of the treeless hills and moun- 

 tain ranges, while the other seems to prefer old temple buildings, where 

 it builds its nest in holes in the walls. In both species the females are 

 grey-brown, with chestnut tails. 



The plumbeous water-redstart {Phyacornis fuUginoaa) is also found, 

 but is not at all common. Erythacus ulcahige, the Japanese- robin oc- 

 curs along the coast of North China, but a bird that is often called 

 the robin is the ruby-throated warbler [Erythacus calliope). This pretty 

 bird is a great favourite with bird fanciers in this country, and with its 

 dark olive-brown head, buck, wings and tail, its bright crimson throat, 

 its white belly and white markings above and below the 

 eye it is certainly a very handsome cage bird. Its near 



relation the blue-throated warbler (E. caeruleculus) is another 

 favourite. This bird is olive-brawn above with a fine blue throat and 

 breast, the blue patch l)eing edged with a band of black and 

 another of chestnut, while a chestnut patch occupies the centre. 

 The upper part of the tail is also chestnut. Both these warblers 

 are very sweet singers, and are favourite cage birds of the Chinese, 

 being called respectively "Hung tien er" (Red spot) and "Lan tien 

 er" (Blue spot). 



There are five species of reed-warblers common to North China, 

 of which the short-billed reed warbler {Arundinax aedon) is perhaps 

 the most plentiful. This bird keeps to the osier beds and willow 

 withies. Last summer I saw great numbers along the river sides in 

 Manchuria, where they sang incessantly and with great vigour. They 

 are very shy of being seen, however, and on the approach of anybody 

 would immediately disappear into the rank foliage. 



The eastern great reed-warhler (Acroceplialus oricntalis) breeds in 

 China and Manchuria, in great numbers. The three other 

 species (A. bestrijiceps, A. tangorum and A. 'sorghophilus) are all 

 small inconspicuous l)irds. Besides these, willow- warblers, grass-hopper- 

 warblers and other small birds belonging to the Sylviidae pass through 

 the country on migration in immense numbers. 



The next two species are what are known as accentors. One of 

 these. Accentor CTythropygius, inhabits the rocky cairns and summits 

 of the higliest back ranges. It is a little smaller than the thrush, and 

 is very prettily marked, though of sombre hue. The other, ThaTrhaleas 

 montanellus, keeps to the valley bottoixis, also in the higher ranges. 

 Tliia is the Chinese representative of the British hedge-sparrow. 



