668 Staff-Surgeon K. H. Jones on Birds 
Passer montanus. 
The Tree-Sparrow, of course, takes the place in China of 
Passer domesticus in Europe, and is just as parasitic, hold, 
and noisy, while it is altogether different in habits from the 
same species in the West. 
These birds build in the native houses, and are particularly 
fond of turning the Mosque Swallows out of their elaborate 
nests, which they do not even trouble to re-line, as a rule. 
In 1901, the Tree-Sparrows in Leu Kung Tao were 
afflicted with a disease, which attacked fledglings, many of 
which died after first becoming blind. Large numbers must 
have perished from this cause during the summer. 
Several broods are got off in the season, and young birds, 
barely able to fly, were noticed in September. Most 
clutches are laid in May and June and contain, as a rule, 
three or four eggs. 
Twenty-four eggs average *76 x*55 inch, and vary from 
•80 to *68 in length and from *60 to *53 in width. 
Emberiza chrysophrys. 
This Bunting occurs plentifully during migration in the 
month of September. Several birds of this species came on 
board H.M.S. ‘Waterwitch* whilst surveying in the Gulf 
of Pechili in the first half of September 1901. 
Emberiza eucata. 
The Grey-headed Bunting was observed at North-East 
Promontory on migration in September. 
Emberiza pusilla. 
A flock of Little Buntings was once observed on Leu 
Kung Tao in the first week of October. 
Emberiza cioides. 
The Siberian Meadow-Bunting is the commonest breeding 
representative of the genus in the Wei Hai Wei district. 
Undoubtedly the majority are summer visitors, but it is just 
possible that some may remain through the winter. 
This species arrives at Wei Hai Wei earlier in the year 
than the writer, probably some time in May, whilst by the 
end of September most of them have taken their departure 
for the south. 
