MISCELLANEOUS BIRDS. 155 



believe it is less common in these parts. It derives its name from its 

 peculiar call, which may be rendered Iwo poo poo. The Chinese name 

 "pu pu tze" is also descriptive of the call. The colour and markings 

 of the hoopoe are very handsome, but its glory lies in the wonderful 

 crown of golden feathers that adorns its head. It nests in holes in 

 cliffs, feeding upon grubs and insects, which it catches with its long 

 bill. With this it prods the soft mould as do the snipes and woodcocks. 



Not distantly related to the hoopoe are the kingfishers, a small 

 variety of which, Alcedo bengalcnsis, is familiar at least to all sportmg 

 men out here. This is closely allied to the species found all over Europe 

 and temperate and even tropical Asia. It is a beautiful httle bird with 

 its bright blue head, back, wings and tail, and its chestnut breast. It 

 may often be seen skimming along the banks of streams and canals 

 with its bright colours flashing like living gems in the sunlight. The 

 Chinese use the feathers of this bird in the manufacture of trinkets and 

 hair ornaments, the brilliant blue being an excellent substitute for 

 enamel. I am told that the natives who hunt for these feathers, catob 

 the birds alive and after they have taken such of the plumes as they 

 require, restore them their freedom. 



The only other kingfisher that I know of inhabiting North China 

 is a very handsome species known as Halcyon pileatus. This bird has 

 a black head, dark purple and blue back and wings, a black tail, white 

 throat, chestnut breast and belly and bright red legs and bill. It 

 frequents rivers and marshes, and may even be seen along mountain 

 streams. It is about the size of a thrush. 



One should not leave the Picarian birds without mentioning one 

 other species, the Chinese broad-billed roller (Eurystonnis calonysc). 

 Whether this bird inhabits North China or not, 1 have not yet ascer- 

 tained, but I found it very common, though hard to secure, in Man- 

 churia. It is certainly one of the handsomest, if not the handsomest 

 bird of these latitudes. Its plumage is a wonderf\d combination of 

 blues, ranging from an emerald-blue on the back to the most ultra of 

 ultramarine on thie tail and what milliners call electric blue on the 

 wings. The head is black and the throat pale mauve-blue. In sharp 

 contrast to these gem-hke colours are the bright orange red beak, crim- 

 son legs and almost ruby coloured eye. The beak is large, pow^erful and 

 hooked at the tip. The wings are long ; the tail square. The bird keeps to 

 the tops of the highest trees, feeding upon the large insects, which it 

 dexterously catches in mid air. It makes a great noise resembling that 

 of the jay and other members of the crow family. 



