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Show 1870.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE ZOOLOGY. 437 Prussian temple), but beyond Crossbills and Goldenwings we saw nothing of interest. The Crossbills were usually on the tops of the pine-trees feeding on the cone-seeds, and twittering in notes much like those of a Sparrow. LOXIA ALBIVENTRIS, sp. nov. Small; like in colour to L. curvirostra, L., but differing from all the known species in having the abdomen and under tail-coverts white, the latter with large central arrow-head brown spots. Under quills whitish. Length 6 inches ; wing 3f; tail 2; tip of wing to end of tail *6. Iris brown ; bill brown, light horn-colour along the tomia. Legs, toes, and claws blackish brown, washed with pink on the soles. Called here Keao-tsuy (twisted bill). On the 14th of August, with two donkeys to carry our baggage, we walked northwards across the millet-plain twenty miles to Chang-pingchow, and put up at an inn near the west gate. This town contains a Taotai, who has charge of the tombs of the Ming Emperors, situated in a neighbouring valley, and called the Shih-sdn-ling (or thirteen eminences). In the early morning we got donkeys, and rode to the celebrated tombs. Two miles of road brings you to the commencement of the sacred precincts, marked by a high open gateway of three arches, whence leads a paved way for a mile to a brick gateway, also of three arches ; a mile further and you reach a single bronzed arch with a large tablet inside, raised by the Emperor Keen-lung of the present dynasty, who repaired the tombs; then a series of animals in stoue flank the way on either side, one kneeling and one standing, of the following in order-the fabulous Kelin, Lion, Camel, Elephant, Tsowshow (Lion with scales and hoofs), and Horse, succeeded by two warriors and two statesmen. Three triple arches are next passed, and you have a cultivated plain before you bounded by hills, at tbe feet of which you can count, as you gaze round, thirteen enclosures of various extent, with what looks like a painted temple with yellow tiling in each, surrounded hy trees. A stream crosses the plain; and the ruins of a marble bridge show the course of the road from the arches. The tomb of the Emperor Yunglo was the largest and best wooded; so we bent our steps along the broken stone causeway to that. The porter in charge was called and let us in. W e were led into the hall where the shrine was placed,-an enormous room 70 paces long by 33 broad, and about 60 feet high in the centre, the sides a little lower; the ceiling was chequered and painted, a good deal like that of the Elgin Gallery in the British Museum, and supported by huge pillars of single timber, each 12 feet in circumference, throughout its great length. There were eight of these pillars. In rear of this large hall is the great mound in which Majesty's bones are entombed. After all this the Society will expect to hear something of the ornithology of the place; but birds were scarce. Tits (Parus minor, Temm. et Schleg.) and P. kamtschaticus were commonest • but I looked in vain for the Crested Cole-tit (P. |