490 RESEARCH IN CHINA. 
Circus cyaneus (LINN#&uS). Blue Harrier. 
Falco cyaneus LINN#US: Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 1766, 1, 126 (near London). 
This harrier was observed only in the Wei valley, during the months of March and 
April. Its habits are too familiar to require special mention here. 
Circus melanoleucus (PENNANT). Pied Harrier. 
Falco melanoleucus PENNANT: Indian Zool., 1769, 11 (India or Ceylon). 
Seen on the marshes of the south branch of the Sungari river, in central Manchuria, 
during September. 
CUCULIDZ2. 
Cuculus canorus telephonus (HEINE). Kamchatkan Cuckoo. 
Cuculus telephonus HEINE: Journ. fiir Orn., 1863, 352 (Japan). 
A cuckoo which agrees closely with the description of this species was common in 
southern Shen-si, in May. 
ALCEDINID. 
Ceryle rudis varia (STRICKLAND). Pied Kingfisher. 
Ceryle varia STRICKLAND: Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vz, 1841, 418. 
We saw the pied kingfisher frequently along the mountain streams of southern Shen-si, 
as far north as the Ts’in-ling divide. 
Halcyon smyrnensis (LINN&uS). Whzite-breasted Kingfisher. 
Alcedo smyrnensis LINNHUS: Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, 116 (‘‘ Africa and Asia”’). 
This was the least common of the three kingfishers seen in China. A single individual, 
probably this species, was observed on the P’ing-li river, in southern Shen-si, in May. 
Alcedo ispida bengalensis (GMELIN). Little Indian Kingfisher. 
Alcedo bengalensis GMELIN: Syst. Nat., I, 1758, 450 (Bengala). 
This gorgeous little kingfisher first came to our notice in southern Manchuria, during 
September, but owing to the advent of cold weather, it did not appear again until we 
reached southern Shen-si in the following May. Unlike the larger kingfishers, this species 
seems to prefer a perch very low over the water, and its rapid and direct flight, as well as 
its brilliant colors, remind one somewhat of the humming-birds. It is fairly common 
along the large streams of southern Shen-si. 
UPUPIDZ. 
Upupaepops Linnzius. Hoopoe. 
Upupa epops Linna&us: Syst. Nat., ed. ro, 1, 1758, 117 (Sweden). 
The hoopoe was common in Shan-si and Shen-si from the middle of March to June. 
We did not meet with it in the Yang-tzi valley, but it probably occurs there. It is also 
rather common in Shan-tung in the late autumn, but only a single bird was seen in the 
mountains of West Chi-li, in January. It is a bird of the villages, frequenting orchards and 
groves, especially in hill districts or even in the mountains, but never very far from human 
habitation. 
MICROPODID&A. 
(?) Micropus pacificus (LatHaAm). Large White-rumped Swift. 
Hirundo pacifica LATHAM: Ind. Ornith. Suppl., 1801, Lx (‘‘ Nova-Hollandia’’). 
A large swift, which is doubtless of this species, was seen at Liang-ho, in the southern 
part of the Ts’in-ling mountains. Several birds were skimming incessantly about the 
rugged hills which border the valley at this point. They move with incredible swiftness. 
It seemed to delight them to swoop toward some object until they seemed certain to be 
