542

SHAW,
SummerBirds
ofChefoo,China.

Auk[oct.

NOTES ON SOME SUMMER BIRDS OF CHEFOO,CHINA.
BY

TSEN-HWANGSHAW.

CHEFOOis locatedon the northern coast of the Shangtung
Peninsula,37ø 32" north latitude and 121ø 23" east longitude.
During the past few years, Chefoohas been the favorite placefor zoologicalcollectors,
beingregardedasthe WoodsHole of China.
The marine fauna is not only rich in species,but also abundant
in individuals. The birds,so far as I know,have not beenfullylisted.

In July, 1929,the presentwriter, accompanied
by Messrs.C. J.
Shenand S. K. Tang, visitedChefooto collectzoologicalspecimensfor the Fan MemorialInstitute of Biology,Peiping,and as amatter of persona]interest, I took the opportunity to observeand collectthe summerbirds of the locality. The periodof mystay was short, the specimensthus collectedwere only fortysevenin number. The skins,whichwerepreparedby S. K. Tang,are now in the ZoologicalMuseum of the Fan Memorial Instituteof Biology. In addition to my notes on thesebirds, I have includedcommentson someinterestingspecimens
obtainedby Mr.
K. F. Wang of the BiologicalLaboratory,ScienceSociety,Nanking, duringJune and July, 1929.
The followinglist containsthe birds I have personallyexaminedor have seen at the field.
Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Shaw & Nodder). CHINESE COR•ORAh"r.--A colony of about fifty birds is estabhshedat the northwesternend of Chefoo Shah. A typical habitat of this Cormorant is on a bluff
where they pass the night and where the white excretionsof the birds is
scattered conspicuouslyhere and there. The sea water under this cliff
is very calm. We have sevenbirds taken on July 26, 1929, at that place.
Their body weight varies from 2000 to 2300 grams. The flight of thisbird is low and laborious. The Cormorant goesunder the water for its
prey, and may remain there for about a minute or so. Long, long ago,the birds were domesticatedby Chinese, and utilized for catching fishes.
Fishing by Cormorant is also seenin north China, but it is not so popular
as that of central and south China.

Several times I saw one or two birds

perched on a rock and watching for fishes.
Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus Pallas. PELAGICCORMORANT.The Pelagic Cormorant is not so common as the Chinese Cormorant.

Vol. XLVII]

1930 J

SHAW,SummerBirdsof Chefoo,China.

543

On July 26, I noticeda few birds at the west side of ChefooShan, two or
three together. Again, on July 31, while we were leaving for Yang-ma
Tao by boat, I saw a singlebird flying over the sea. Severalspecimens
are in Wang's collection,taken near ChefooShan, July 24.
Ardea cinerea jouyi Clark. EASTERNGRAY HERON.•n July 9,
Mr. Wang saw two Gray Heronsstandingon a rock near Yang-ma Tao,at low tide. The onehe shotwasan adult female. On August1, I noticed
one on the sea shoreat Moping, the m,,inland south of Yang-ma Tao.
Mr. Wang told me that he has twelve specimensfrom the northwesternside of ChefooShan, collectedJuly 28.
The bird is alsofound in marshy fieldsand on the banks of streams.
Erythropus vespertinus amurensis (Radde). EASTERN
RED-LEGGED
FALCON.--TheEastern Red-leggedFalcon is a commonsl•mmerbird in
the district. Four birds in Wang's collection,were collectedJune 29,
July 1, and July 28. We have two birdscollectedon July 28, and oneon
July 30. They show a sexualdifferencein coloration. The male differsfrom the female by its unspottedbreast, reddish bill, and a few minorcharacters. The bodyweight varies from 135 to 150 grams. They feedon lizards, and on locusts,beetlesand other kinds of insects.
? Butastur indicus (Gmelin). GRAY-FACEDBUZZARD-EAGLE.•)nthe morningof July 30, I saw a large Hawk, which was believedto be ofthis species,flying over the sea shore.
Alectoris graeca pubescens (Swinhoe). EASTERN RED-LEGGED
PAR•RrVGE.--The vernacular name for this bird is 'Shih-chi' which means'StoneChicken.' On July 25, Mr. Wang noticeda flock of Red-legged
Partridgesat ChefooShan, their colorationis largely protectivein thesandy hills. The bird Wang collectedthat day was a male. A countryman told me that the Partridgesare now (end of July) relatively scarceas c•mpared with last month. Mr. Wang purchasedthree males in themarket on June 4.

But there are no birds on the market for sale in latterpart of July.

Cirrepidesmus mongolius mongolills (Pallas). MONGOLIANPLOVER.
--A femalewas shot in the morningof August 1, at the northern shoreofMoping. The body weight of this bird is 85 grams. Several others
were noticed on the sandy beach where they feed on small crustaceans.
It was also observed on the sea shore at Chefoo.

Anteliotringa tenuirostris (Horsfield). EAS•F_•N
KNOT.---Onlyfew
noticedon the seashoreat Moping,southof Yang-maTao, on August1.
A femalewas taken, weighing170 grams.
Tringa incaria brevipes (Vieillot). GRAYS•Z•DP•PER.--TheGray
Sandpiperwas not uncommonon the northernshoreof Moping. On
August1, we shotfive femaleswithin an hour. Their bodyweightvaries
from 93 to 100 grams. They feed on crabs and various other small
crustace.ans.

Numenius cyanopus (Vieillot). F_•STERNCURLEw.•On August1,
I sawseveralbirdson the seashoreof Moping.

544
Sterna[AukSHXW,
SummerBirds
ofChefoo,China.
hirundohirundo

Linnaeus.--CoMMoN

TERN.--TheLOot.
commonTern is one of the most familiar sea birds of Chefoo. One specimenin
Wang's collection,taken July 14. On August 1, we collectednine birds
from the northern shoreof Moping. Their body weight varies from 49
to 53 grams. Their stomachscontained fish and crustaceans.
Larus crassirostris (Vieillot). BLACK-TAILEDGULL.--This species
is common along the sea shore and is often seen following the steamers.
Mr. Wang shot one female on June 24.
Cuculus canorus telephonus (Heine). COMMONCUCKOO.--In themorning of July 27, I heard the calling of the Common Cuckoo.
? Asio otus otus (Linnaeus). LONG-EARED
OWL.--Mr. Wang collecteda youngfemale on July 11. Owing to the bad conditionof the skin, thespecimen was not saved.
Micropus apus pekinensis (Swighoe). NORTH-CHINASWIFT.--This
Swift is somewhat smaller than the White-rumped Swift. A single specimen in Wang's collection.
Micropus pacificus pacificus (Latham). LARGE WHITE-BUMPED
SwirT.--The large White-rumped Swift is a common bird along the sea
shore of Chefoo.

It is known that this bird breeds here in June.

Thenestis madeof glutinousmatter producedby the bird, and mixedwith few
feathers. The so-called "bird's nest" is highly valued on the table.
Each nest containstwo or three eggs. They fly in flocks, more or less
Swallow-like. Six specimenscollectedon July 26, at Kung-tung Tao, anisland about sevenmiles east of Chefoo Town. Their body weight varies
from 38 to 45 grams. Wang has one bird taken June 20.
Dryobates cabanisi cabanisi (Malherbe). CHINESE PIED WOODPECKER.--Amale in Wang's collectionwas taken on the southwesternhills.
Melanocorypha mongolica (Pallas). MONGOLIm'q
SANDLARK.--The
Mongolian Sandlark is a common cage-bird in North China. People
love to keep this bird in captivity. They hang their cages under theshade of trees and enjoy the singingof the birds.
Galerida cristata leautungensis

Swinhoe.

NORTH CHINA CRESTEDL•qK.--Several times, the Crested Lark was observed in the southwestern hills. Although it is a songbird, people care much more for thesongof the Mongolian Sandlark. It was also noticed at Yang-ma Tao,on July 31.
Hirundo rustica gutturalis Scopoli. EASTERNHOUSESWALLOW.The House Swallow seems to be rather rare in Chefoo.

I saw few birds

in the town and vicinity.
Hirundo daurica nepalensis Hodgson. HODGSON'SSTRIATEDSWALLow.--This Swallow feeds on beetles, grasshoppers,flies, mosquitoesandother insects. We have a bird taken in the southwesternhills, on July
28, and five more from Yang-ma Tao on July 31. Four of them weighed
17 grams each, one 20 grams, and the other 21 grams. It breeds inChefoo. One mud-nest was observedin the Taoist Temple at Yang-maTao. It was fixed under the ceiling, and about fifteen feet above the¾ol. XLVII]

1930 JS•,AW,•ummerBirdsof Chefoo,China.

545ground. Ttie circularentrancefacingtowardsthe outsideof the building.
Next to the Tree Sparrow,the StriatedSwallowis the mostfamiliar birdin Chefoo.

Parus major artatus Thayer & Bangs. NoR•r• CHINA TiT.--The
North China Tit is commonin the woodedhill,• where it feedson leaf-hoppers
andothersmallinsects.Onefemalewastakenat Southwestern
Hills on July 28. The weight of'this bird was 15 grams.
Oriolus chinensis indicus Jerdon. BLACK-NAPEDORIOLE.--Wang's
collection contains one specimen. It was collectedon July 3, on thesouthwestern

hills.

Pica pica sericea Gould. CHn•EsEMAGPIE.--I frequentlyheard thisMagpie callingin the hills. It inhabitsin the woodedregion,and seems
to be not very common..
Spodiopsar cineraceus, (Temmluck). GR•Y •I•ARLING.---OnJuly 28,
Wang's party saw three Gray Starlingsin the southwesternhills. He
shot a female which weighed 65. grams. On August 1, a female wasshotat the west sideof Yang-ma Tao, its body weight being74 grams.
Emberiza cioidss castansiceps Moore. CHINESE[ViEADow-BuNTING--The Meadow-Buntingis not uncommonon the pine-coveredhills.
We have two birds in our collection,one taken July 25 which weighed
21 grams, the other on July 28 weighing 20 grams. The birds feedlargely on insectsand seedsof grasses.
Passer montanus saturatus Stejneger. CHINESETREE SPARROW.The Tree Sparrowsare very abundantin Chefoo. Sevenspecimens
werecollectedby us. They feedon both anlm,•!and vegetablematter, and do
great damageto the millet which is cultivated in the foothills.