28 SOME NOTES ON LAND-BIRDS 



and remained as well as several other small land-birds, 

 which I could not identify as the light was failing. A 

 kestrel also hovered round trying to find some sheltered 

 place to rest, but was disturbed by the cat. After dark I 

 found that the cat had caught a bird and eaten it in my 

 room, covering everything most liberally with feathers. 

 Later the cat brought in another bird, which though greatly 

 mutilated appeared to be a wagtail, possibly one of the grey 

 wagtail seen earlier in the evening. 



October 15th. — Approaching Chen-lien-tau off Tsingtau. • 

 A strong N.W. (5-6) wind all night, but now moderates, fine 

 and clear. I saw one small land-bird, a wagtail, and several 

 flocks of duck, from 20 to 30 birds in each flock, these were 

 all larger birds than mallard, but too far away to identify. 

 One mature gannett and a few gulls follow in our wake until 

 anchored off Tsingtau. And then some half dozen gulls 

 (L Canus) remained astern watching for offal. 



October 18th. — Tsingtau to Newchwang. Light S.E. 

 airs and fine, the atmosphere is full of dust. I saw a gull 

 at rest on the water, too far away to identify, yet I do 

 not think it was a common one. Nothing particular was 

 seen until approaching Surveyor Island; passing two and 

 a half miles north of this, many small land-birds were seen 

 amongst which were half a dozen swallows, which kept 

 together in one flock hawking round the ship for flies. None 

 of the birds remained with us for long, not over half an 

 hour. A hawk, which I think was a kestrel, hovered round 

 the ship for some time, and left when the swallows did. 

 No doubt this was the reason for the birds going elsewhere. 

 These birds were difficult to identify, being so continually on 

 the go, but amongst them I noticed two species of wagtail, 

 and one of these was the grey-wagtail, I fancy. After dark 

 a few moths came on board but I was unable to catch any 

 of them. 



October 19th.— Lat. 37-50' N., Long. 122-15' E. Light 

 N.E. winds and fine. Air very clear. Several land birds at 

 different times. A finch of some kind, not unlike a chaffinch 

 at the first glance but differs considerably after a good view. 

 And a pair of pigeon, possibly (T Orientalis). Later this 

 evening the cat caught one of the finches, it was rather 

 mauled when I had succeeded in getting it, and a part 

 description would not be of much assistance. 



October 25th. — Approaching Newchwang Bar. Light 

 N.W. airs and fine. Many small land-birds flew on board, 

 but as I was very busy, I had no opportunity to give sufficient 

 attention to determine what they were. On proceeding up 

 the river Liao a few flocks of duck or guillemot were met 

 with. 



