690 
Staff-Surgeon K. H. Jones on Birds 
September, when practically all have passed, A Snipe shot 
in the second week of October at Shi Tao was in very poor 
condition. The numbers of Snipe appear to vary greatly 
in different years, but it was noticed that when the wind 
and weather are not propitious for a further journey to the 
south, they often remain in the vicinity for some days. On 
the other hand, at North-East Promontory it was noticed 
that they remained for two days when all the conditions 
were in favour of their continuing their journey. 
At North-East Promontory, September 1902, in very 
stormy weather several parties of Snipe were observed 
coming in from the sea, obviously having crossed from the 
neighbourhood of Port Arthur ; they were in flocks of from 
five to ten birds, flying fairly high up, and uttering their 
characteristic cry. 
Tringa alpina. 
Dunlins occurred in all suitable places near Wei Hai 
Wei as early as the middle of August, while in September 
and early October they became exceedingly numerous. 
There seemed to be two forms of this species which were 
obtained at Shi Tao, one of which was much larger than 
the other. The larger form kept separate from the smaller, 
but flocks of both were to be seen on the same mud-flat. 
It is curious to note, however, that on the 9th of June, to 
the west of Wei Hai W r ei, a Dunlin was obtained in full 
breeding-plumage, its foot being in a snare attached to a 
small withy, which it had pulled up when it escaped. As the 
Chinese set these snares near the nests of birds, there is 
every likelihood that this Dunlin was breeding in the 
neighbourhood. Wei Hai Wei is not further south than 
Southern Spain, where the Dunlin is known to breed. It 
is possible that the larger form of Dunlin mentioned above 
may be Tringa americana. 
Tringa minuta. 
The Little Stint occurs plentifully on the coast of 
Shantung from early in August onwards, generally in 
small flocks of from twenty to thirty birds. 
