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Show 1870.J MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE ZOOLOGY. 443 the trees, I could just distinguish the outline of a large smooth-headed owl on a bare branch against the sky. I bowled him over, and found him to be a Syrnium nivicolum, Hodgs., again-the species I had got here on m y former visit. The other birds procured were a Green Woodpecker (Picus canus), a Pied Woodpecker (Picus mandarinus), a Titlark (Anthus agilis), which was common about the trees, and a couple of Nuthatches (Sitta villosa, Verr.). The night of the 19th we passed in a one-roomed cottage, dignified by the name of inn, near Yunglo's tomb. It was like the stall of the old cobbler, " which served him for kitchen, for parlour, for all." I will say nothing of the horrors of tbe night, or of our personal appearance in the morning. What I lamented was the blackened state of m y specimens from the constant fumigation they were subjected to. On rising we were saluted by the notes of a Picus scintilliceps, mihi, from a neighbouring tree. W e had heard talk of a forest existing over the mountains, and we got a guide to lead us to it. Unfortunately the term for forest in Chinese means any thing from a clump of trees to a large expanse of wood ; so that after clambering about the rocks and wading to our necks in damp grass for some hours, our guide brought us to a standstill at a group of firs, and told us that was the largest forest on these hills. W e retraced our steps in disgust, but not till we had renewed our acquaintance with Rhopophilus pekinensis (mihi). It was whisking about its long tail on the tops of bushes, uttering a loud whistle. Its eyelid was madder-red, its iris washed with yellow ; upper mandible light brown, lower yellowish white ; legs brownish flesh-colour tinged with yellow. From the Ming tombs to the town of Nankow, at the gate of the mountain-pass which leads through the inner portion of the Great Wall, there was a good road for the first six miles ; the remaining six were fearfully stony and rocky, and tbe jolting of the cart endangered one's bones. A gentleman from California put up at our inn, and we spent an instructive evening together. From Nankow, the gate that opens into the pass, to Shato, beyond the gate at the top of the pass, is fifteen miles ; but the road is blocked with stones and lumps of rock, and our carts had to be unpacked and helped through with extra animals and men, while our goods were transported on donkeys. M y two companions and I walked and rode on horseback. A male Sparrow-hawk (Accipiter nisus), with clear yellow irides and long yellow toes, was all we bagged ; but we were delighted by witnessing the stoop of an Eagle. He was flying slowly across at a height over the deep gully through which we were travelling, when suddenly, like a stone, down he came and, shooting obliquely, struck a bank within fifty yards of us behind a cottage. H e seized a Leveret; but the little creature slipped away from him, and escaped to the ditch below. W e were so struck by the sight that we did not think of seizing our guns till the bird was out of reach. The wild rocky hills of the gorge draw closer as we approach the upper wall, that crosses the pass. Another flock |
