428 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Ornithological Notes made at Chefoo. 
coalescing into splashes; the tibials with conspicuous heart- 
shaped dark spots. Tarse and feet more delicate, the former 
with small hexagonal scales. 
Length. Wing. Tail. 
Small $ . 13 9 6*88 
Large $ . 15-25 10-5 8 
The unusual appearance of the bird, and its very large size, 
made me half believe that I had got a novelty; but I have 
searched in vain for any structural difference, and I am forced 
to admit that my single specimen must be merely an extra¬ 
ordinary individual variety. At least we have not sufficient 
material for coming to any other conclusion. 
5. Eastern Red-legged Falcon. Erythropus amurensis 
(Radde). 
Soon after my arrival at Chefoo, on 4th May, I made an 
excursion to the “Bois de Boulogne.” We had not pene¬ 
trated far along the avenue of tall trees that leads to it from 
the road when I recognized the Kestrel-like scream of this 
species, and soon saw a male with conspicuous white axillaries 
wheeling in circles in the sky above. He was quickly fol¬ 
lowed by a female. I was glad to see that this little Hawk 
was already here on its summer visit; and shortly after, espying 
a large Magpie's nest up a high tree, I had my sedan chair 
put down, and induced my chair-coolies to attempt climbing 
the long smooth pole. While my men were addressing them¬ 
selves to the task I noticed the birds go several times to the 
nest, and my hopes were high that eggs were laid. An ex- 
cresence on the bole some way up foiled my men, and they 
gave up the ascent. I tried a more accessible Magpie's nest 
on the way home. A pair of Red-legged Falcons were hover¬ 
ing near; but the parent Magpies were about too. The nest 
contained only callow young Magpies. A few days later, in 
the garden of a missionary living in the country at some dis¬ 
tance from the town, I noticed a female Falcon fly from the 
top of a Magpie's nest. I sent a man up, but he found the nest 
empty. With all my efforts I did not succeed in getting 
either an egg or a downy chick. 
In a dry watercourse, or “ nullah/' about a mile from the 
