1948 ALASTAIR MORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS 381

TINBERGEN, L. (1946). Ardea, 34 :

TRACY, N. (1933). Brit. Birds,

TURNER, E. L. (1924). ‘ Broadland birds.’ London. UTTENDORFER, 0. (1939).

Neudarnrn. VASVARI, N. (1931).

purea L.).’ Aquila, 26 & 27 : 231-293. WHITE, G. (1789). ‘ The natural history of Selborne.’ London. WILSON, E. A. and LESLIE, A. S. (1911).

‘ De Sperwer als Roofvijand van Zangvogels.’

‘ Pine cone diet of Great Spotted Woodpecker.” 1-213.

26 : 257-258.

‘ Die Ernahrung der deutschen Raubvijgel und Eulen.’

‘ Studien uber die Ernahrung des Purpurreihers (Ardea pur-

‘ The Grouse in health and in disease ’, pp. 67-87. London.

A WINTER COLLECTION FROM CENTRAL SZECHUAN, CHINA. By ALASTAIR MORRISON. Received on 20 May 1947

PREFACE.

From November 1943 to March 1945 I was stationed in China, most of the period being spent in Chungking. I was naturally anxious to learn something of the local birds and was eventually able to take 28 days’ local leave which I spent in making a small collection in a locality not far from Chungking. I would have endeavoured to venture further afield but for the acutely difficult transport situation in wartime China, and with a leave limited in regard to time, a phenomenon with which I have never had to contend on previous expeditions, I had to .be content with a modest trip to somewhere near at hand. Through the kindness of the British-owned Peking Syndicate I was able to visit a small coal mine lying in low hills some 50 km. north of Chungking, and I was pleased to find that the local avifauna was much more interesting than I had anticipated. Furthermore, since my return to England I have found that relatively little is known concerning Central Szechuan. The more remote parts of the province in the west and on the Tibetan border are much better known.

The difficulties of obtaining a a410 collecting gun in India, together with ammunition, arsenic, and skinning tools, were considerable, and the prices of such simple items as cotton wool, paper and pins bought in China quite surprising ; and when all these difficulties were overcome and the trip completed, the question of sending the collection home was a problem in itself.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . I received help everywhere, but I would particularly like to express my

thanks to the following gentlemen :- Mr. G . Findlay Andrew, O.B.E., Counsellor of the British Embassy,

Chungking, who was an’unfailing source of encouragement and good advice.

3 82 ALASTAIH MORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS IBIS, 90

Lt.-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, V.C., who very kindly arranged for the transport of my collecting gun and ammunition from Calcutta to Chungking in his private plane.

hlr. John Milligan of the Peking Syndicate, who advised me on the choice of a locality and arranged for me to go there, and Mr. W. H. Yu, Manager of the Ch’uan Chi Coal Mine, a very kind and thoughtful host. All officials of the Chung Fu Mining Corporation, the proprietors of the mine, whose courtesy and hospitality knew no bounds. Sir Horace Seymour, British Ambassador in Chungking, and Air-Commodore Bartholomew, our Air Attach6 there, who both took a very helpful interest in the problem of sending my collection home to the British Museum by air.

Finally I have to thank Mr. H. B. Usher, of the Bird Room, who worked very hard in helping me to identify my specimens. The scattered references to the birds of Szechuan and the lack of any up-to-date handlist of the birds of China, makes the working out of a Chinese collection a matter of some difficulty. Having shortly before worked out my Peruvian collections with relatively much less difficulty, the value of such a work as Dr. Hellmayr’s ‘ Birds of the Americas ’ was bro,ught home to me very forcibly.

LOCALITY.

The collectisn was made in the vicinity of a small coal mine at Ch’uan Chi which is situated on a stream which comes down from the hills to the east of the Chialing, a tributary of the Yangtze, which joins the latter stream at Chungking. It is distant some 10 km. from the village of Ch’ao Chieh Tze, on the Chialing, to which it is connected by a light railway for hand cars, and Ch’ao Chieh Tze itself is about the same distance upstream from the large town of Pei P’ei. As the crow flies Ch’uan Chi is about 50 kin. north of Chungking.

T o reach Ch’uan Chi from Ch’ao Chieh Tze one follows the light railway up a highly cultivated, fertile valley covered with paddy fields and flanked by low hills. Eventually the valley contracts to a narrow gorge, and it is here that the mine is situated. Above the gorge the valley once more opens out into rich farm land with the bounding hills somewhat higher.

The higher points of the surrounding hills rise another 2000 feet or so, but there are no good maps of the area and I had no means of verifying the altitudes. I am also not aware cf the exact geological formation of the area, but the hills appeared to consist of some sort of sandstone.

The most im- portant crop is rice, which is grown everywhere that irrigation is possible, even high up on the hillsides on terraces. Land which cannot be irrigated is principally taken up with beans, though wheat ayd other crops are also grown.

Ch’uan Chi is about 1506 feet above sea-level.

The soil is fertile and all the available land is cultivated.

1948 ALASTAIR MORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS 383

As a result of the high degrec of cultivation, natural Vegetation is almost entirely confined to the steep hillsides. At one time thc hills must have supported considerable pine forests, but these have long ago disappeared, and the few remaining trees are rapidly being cut down. Scattered patches of pine trees still exist, but the prevailing vegetation in the hills is a low scrub oak and wild tangles of shrubs and brambles. I n cultivated arcas a good many cypresses occur, and there are nearly always trees and clumps of bamboos in the vicinity of the many farm houses which dot the valley floor. There were always plenty of birds in the latter places, but the cultivated areas were of little interest except by the stream sides. There were also plenty of birds on the hill slopes, but it was an arduous business collecting them.

The climate is typical of that of Central Szechuan, with hot summers and the rest of the year damp and usually overcast. The winters are generally mild, but during my visit snow fell for several days, though it did not lie for long.

I arrived at Ch’uan Chi on 30 January 1945 and left again on 22 February. During that period. I collected 142 specimens of 52 forms, and identified a further nine species by sight. I also saw examples of at least another six species which I was unable to identify or shoot, and from this it may be gathered that the avifauna is far from poor. A feature of certain specimens collected, particularly some of the warblers, was their dark coloration. Although some of these specimens were not collected in the immediate vicinity of the mine, I attribute the dark coloration to the coal silt which is discharged into the waters of the stream.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED.

ARDE.4 CINEREA JOLrYI Clark. Only one seen, on 22 February, half-way to Ch’ao Chieh Tze.

EGRETTA GARZETTA GARZETTA (Linnreus). Egrets were common on the paddy fields, and I think that this \v39 the onl! species

CERCHNEIS TIN~SUNCULUS INTERSTINCTUS RlcClelland. A few examples seen.

MILVLS MIGRANS LINEATUS (Gray). I saw one or two esamples of this common scavenger.

PHASIANUS COLCHICUS DECOLLATUS Sninhoc. I flushed a few on the higher slopes.

1 $.

which occurred.

CHARADRIUS PLACIDUS Gray. 1 S. Only one pair seen on paddy.

ACTITIS HYPOLELCOS (Linnreus). 1 $. A few seen on paddy.

STREPTOPELIA ORIESTALIS ORIENTALIS (Latham). Fairly common on the hill slopes, hut not s w n on thc valley floor

1 T.

384 ALASTAIR XlORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS IBIS, 90

STREPTOPELIA CHINENSIS FRIGORIS Strcscmann. A number seen in cultivated places. GLAUCIDIUM CUCULOIDES WHITELYI (Blyth). I only once saw an example, which was flying about in daylight.

OTUS BAKKAM(ENA GLABRIPES (Swinhoe). 1 9. One example of this pretty Scops Owl was brought to me by a Chinese huntcr.

ALCEDO A7THIS BENGALENSIS Gmelin. Common along the larger streams and on the flooded paddy fields.

PICUS CANUS SETSCHUANUS Hesse. Not common.

CORVUS TORQUATUS Lesson. A common bird everywhere, but generally seen in the hills in pairs.

CORVUS LEVAILLAYTI subsp. Apparently rather a rare bird. PICA PICA SERICEA Could. Abundant everywhere. UROCISSA ERYTHRORHYNCHA ERYTHRORHYNCHA (Gmelin). A noisy and conspicuous bird found in small parties in wooded places. PARUS MAJOR ARTATUS Thayer & Bangs. A common species, often seen with parties of Buntings and Bgithaliscus. ECITHALISCUS CONCINNUS CONCINNUS (Could). 2 33 ; 1 9 ; 1 0. T o be seen everywhere in the open and in scrub, hunting about the ground and

through the trees in sociable little parties the individuals of which constantly call to each other.

2 dd. Both my specimens

were brought to me by a Chinese hunter.

1 $ ; 2 99.

1 d. I only saw one or two, and a Chinese huntcr brought me my only

specimen.

Only a few examples seen on the higher hills.

Nearly every group of trees around a farm contained a pair. 1 0 .

1 $.

3 $3 ; 1 0.

These parties usually consist of 15-20 birds.

SUTHORA WEBBIANA SUFFUSA Swinhoe. 1 d ; 2 99. A common little bird and very gregarious. I always saw them in parties, some of

which must have included 50-60 birds. Their usual haunts are rough places where there is a tangle of long grass and low bushes. They are pretty little things, and it is a charming sight to see several swinging gaily on the heads of a tall pampas-like grass which appears to be a favourite food.

STACHYRIS RUFICEPS DAVIDI (Oustalet). 1 6. I only saw three examples in all of this peculiar little bird, twice associating with

POMATORHINUS RUFICOLLIS STYANI Seebohm. A common bird.

near houses, though it also occurs on the hillsides. DRYONASTES PERSPICILLATUS PERSPICILLATUS (Gmelin). One specimen was brought to me by a Chinese hunter, though I never saw it at

DRYONASTES SANNIO (Swinhoe). 1 $. A common bird seen around houses and in the hillside scrub.

"ROCHALOPTERON CANORUM CANORUM (Linnseus). This beautiful songster was abundant in the scrub oak on the hillsides.

Crow Tits and once alone.

2 $d ; 3 99. Generally seen in twos and threes amongst bamboo and often

1 d.

Ch'uan Chi personally. It is a common bird in the vicinity of Chungking.

I t is conspicuous and very noisy, usually in small parties, but very wary and skulking when approached.

I heard They go about in quite

1 $ ; 1 9 .

far more than I saw for they are very difficult to approach.

1948 ALASTAIR MORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS 385

big parties. hIost of the males were not in full song during my visit, but in the flocks they seemed to be tuning up, singing quietly to themselves as it were. When near such a party I seldom saw a bird except when one would cautiously emerge to study the situation, always well out of range. The staple food given to it by Chinese bird fanciers, with whom it is a great favourite, is millet seed mixed with a little dried egg-yolk, and it thrives on this diet.

The bird must be largely a seed-eater.

PYCNONOTUS AURIGASTER ANDERSONI (Swinhoe). A cheerful, conspicuous bird generally found in pairs in thick scrub on the hillsides.

In the field it is difficult to distinguish by note from the next species. They both have a variety of calls, but the most common call-note of the present species, a scolding " churruk, churruk ", is a good deal harsher than that of the Chinese Bulbul. They are sometimes seen in the same flock, but more often keep to themselves.

5 66 ; 3 CY.

PYCNONOTUS SINENSIS SINENSIS (Gmelin). Fairly common and usually seen in flocks.

SPIZIXOS SEMITORQUES SEMITORQUES Swinhoe. The pair shot were the only ones seen.

2 $9. I often saw parties feeding in the

1 6 ; 1 0. hillside scrub, but they seemed more at home in the vicinity of cultivation.

They were associating with a mixed party of Troclzalopteron, Pomatorhinus and PJrccnonotus of both species after several days of snowfall.

PNOEPYGA PUSILLA PUSILLA Hodgson. 1 0. This minute and well-nigh tailless wren is so unobtrusive that it can easily go

I had glimpses of what I took to be it in grass tangles on the hillsides, It was shot over

unobserved. but the one which I collected was the only positive identification. a little stream which ran through a bamboo thicket near some buildings.

MYIOPHONEUS CWRULEUS CWRULEUS (Scopoli). I occasionally saw odd examples of this Black-billed Whistling Thrush. It must

be a common bird in Central Szechuan for I have often seen it in the grounds of the British Embassy in the centre of Chungking.

COPSYCHUS SAULARIS SAULARIS Linnaxs. I only saw a few solitary individuals in the neighbourhood of houses.

1 $. They did

not look as if their surroundings suited them. The specimen collected was feeding clumsily and unhappily on a sludge tank where a wagtail would have been more at home, and its plumage was peculiarly dirty and evil-smelling. Another one shot was so befouled as to be worthless as a skin. area for the species as a winter resident.

My impression was that this was a marginal

PHCENICURUS AUROREUS AUROREUS (Pallas). Common in the neighbourhood of houses and in semi-cultivated places, but only

The males are handsome and conspicuous little I found it very difficult to distinguish between the females of the three redstarts

4 dd ; 2 99 ; 1 0.

rarely seen in the thicker scrub. birds. which I encountered.

PHCENICURUS HODCSONI (Moore). I saw a number, though it is not so common as the preceding species.

16 ; 1 0. Since the

males of the Daurian Redstart are rather variable I did not at first readily distinguish this species, and it may be more common than I thought.

PHCENICURUS FRONTALIS Vigors. This lovely species (the rufous underparts of the male appear bright orange in a

In such places it was common,

3 63 ; 1 0.

good light) was confined to the scrub on the hillsides. and charmingly familiar in its habits.

386 ALASTAIR MORRISON : SZECIIUAN BIRDS IBIS, 90

RHYACORNIS PULIGINOSA FULIGINOSA (Vigors). A delightful tame little bird which was common on all the streams, even by the coal-

1 $ ; 1 9.

impregnated waters near the mine. The males were singing frcely when I left.

CHAIMARRHORNIS LEUCOCEPHALA (Vigors). 5 $$. This splendid bird was very common. I t is lively and conspicuous, and a clear

stream is a perfect setting for its fine colour scheme of pure white cap, black upper parts and chestnut-red underparts and tail. It would be a most desirable introduction to the British Isles, for I am sure it would thrive amongst our hills and moorlands ; it is very hardy, and is by no means difficult to import.

4 $3. TAFSIGER CHRYSAUS ISABELLINUS Stresemann. I collected the only examples seen of this strange little ground bird. They appeared

after snow had fallen for several days, and two of the specimens were very emaciated. It seemed to me that they must have been driven off the higher hills by the snow. They were tame and silent little birds, and behave rathcr like small redstarts except that they keep to the ground more.

TARSIGER CYANURUS CYANURUS (Pallas). I saw a number of these charming little birds, always singly, and usually on the

2 $$ ; 1 o.

fringes of cultivated ground.

HENICURUS LESCHENAULTI SINENSIS Gould. A few examples seen on the small streams of the valley sides, but not common.

They often visit the terraced paddy fields, and one pair which I saw perrhcd freely on small trees when I approached.

1 9.

Ptiur.i.oscorus PROREGUI.US PROREGUI .us (Pallas). A few seen amongst cultivation, sometimes in company u ith &,cifhnlisuIs.

1 'i . They

disappeared during the snow and were not seen afterwards.

PHYI.LOSCOPUS AFFINIS SUBAFFINIS 0.-Grant. A few specimens seen amongst cultivation, but I did not distinguish hetwcvn this

CE;ITIA FORTIPES DAVIDIANA (Verreaux). 1 6. As for the preceding species.

CE.T'I.IA ACANTHOIDES ACANTHOIDES (Verreaux). The two collected were the only ones seen.

1 I.

and the next species in the field.

1 $ ; 1 0.

One was in a patch of bamboo and the other in thick scrub, but they were very silent and unobtrusive.

1 3 ; 1 '$. S C Y A CRlNlGERA PARUMSTRIATA David & OUStakt. I did not find this species very common. Their haunts seem to be rough, grassy

placcs. These two specimens agree with a series of pnrumstriata. Their measurements do not agree with those given For Sup criniqera cntharia (Reichenow), described from Tachienlu in western Szechuan (' Om. Monatsber.' 16 (1908) : 13). Amcngst measurements given for mthnrin, without refcience to sex, are : wing 43 mm., tail 67 mm. ,Measurements of my speci- mens are : male, wing 50.5 mm., tail 101 mni. ; female, wing 50 mni., tail 8.5 mm. S. c. catliu)in is not represented in the British Museum Collection.

1 6.

.4part from those collected I only saw one.

PRINIA INORNATA EXTER Thayer & Bangs. T w o seen aniongst cultivation and one in an open grassy place.

ANTIIL'S ROSEATUS Blyth. ANTHUS HODGSONI HODGSONI Richmond.

The long tail is flicked laterally.

2 $8 ; 1 $' ; 1 0. 2 $3 ; 2

1945 ALASTAIR MORRISON : SZECHUAN BIRDS 387

I unfortunately did not realize that I had collected two species of pipit until after

MOTACILLA ALBA ALBOIDES Hodgson. Extremely abundant everywhere along the streams and on flooded paddy fields.

MOTACILLA CINEREA CASPICA (Gnielin). A few examples seen along the stream, but not at all common.

LANIUS SCHACH SCHACH Linnaeus. These big shrikes \rere quite common and very conspicuous.

I had left Ch'uan Chi. Pipits were very common in all cultivated places.

5 dd ; 1 4'.

1 0.

1 6 ; 3 9:'. They all disappeared

On 19 and during the snow and did not return until the ground was quite clear again. 22 February I heard examples singing noisily from the tops of tall trees.

LANIUS SCHACH TEPHRONOTUS (Vigors). One example was collected.

PASSER MONTANUS OBSCURATUS Jacobi. The common sparrow of China.

1 d.

2 T.3. Found everywhere, in the grime around the

mine and around the farms.

PASSER RUTILANS RUTILANS (Teniminck). I only once came across this handsome sparrow, a large flock by n farmhouse.

4 dS ; 4 ?2.

UROLONCHA STHIATA SQUAMICOLI.IS Sharpe. 1 6 ; 1 '; ; 1 0.

I saw altogether three small parties, twice in bamboo and once in a small farmyard. The individuals of a party keep up a feeble squeaky pipe, and thcy have a whirring flight. Those I saw were very tame.

CHLORIS SINICA SINICA Linnaeus. Common, always in small flocks.

3 d$ ; 2 pi?.

It seems to behave in an exactly similar \vay to our common British species.

ERYTHRINA VISACEA VINACEA (Yerrcaus). The specimen collected was the only esaniple seen.

1 c'.

EMBERIZA SPODOCEPHALA SPODOCEPIIA1.A pallas. 1 I.:! ; 1 0. I only once came across this species, when I saw a few associating with Elegant

and Tristram's Buntings.

EMUERIZA ELEGANS ELEGANTULA S\vinhoe. I sometimes saw a few examples high up on a small side valle>- in the ncighbourhood

of some cultivated plots. I am familiar with the species in North China.

EMBERIZA PUSILLA I'allas. 5 83 ; 1 0.

Extremely abundant. Wherever I uent I came across this little bird, from ones and twos to quite big parties. They generally associate with other buntings nnd, for some reason, with Great Tits. They spend nearly all their time on the ground, and permit one to approach quite closely. They rise at the last minute and generally fly to some vantage point, the top of n rock or a nearby tree, to study the intruder, all the time uttering their feeble chipping cry, flirting their tnils and elevating their little crests.

EMBERIZA CIOIDES CASTANEICEPS KIoorc. Not quite so abundant as the preceding species, in the company of which it is

EMBERIZA TRISTRAMI Svinhoc. 2 C?. Not common.

4 88 ; 3 $5' ; 1 0.

generally found, but very common.

A few found nssoci:iting with Elegant Buntings.