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Notes Comments
resembles that of H. sparveroides, but is louder if anything. It is a very noisy bird, and makes its arrival and presence soon known.”
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The Burmese Plaintive Cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus querulus, Heine. Caldwell does not mention this species, curiously enough, in his South China Birds but it is described fully by La Touche Vol. II p. 49. He writes “This small Cuckoo is very common in North-East Kwangtung during summer, and has been observed in Folkien as far norh as Foochow.
It is, however, very rare in the latter locality, the only specimen recorded being the one mentioned by Rickett in The Ibis.' At Amoy (South-East Fohkien), at Swatow, Hong Kong, and Canton, also at Mengtsz (where I procured many specimens in August, September, October, February, and April) it is very common, and it is to be heard throughout the spring. It frequents the gardens of the various foreign settlements, and also the mangrove-marshes of Swatow, and its persistent and irritating cry goes on during the day and also at night. Hutson's comment on this bird in our card index is Brain-fever bird, seldom seen but much heard.”
Of this
These extracts, concerning these four species, if anything emphasize the confusion that exists between them and their calls. We have no record of the Hawk Cuckoo in Hong Kong or the Territories, on the other three species mentioned above we have a number of observations and also one on the Eastern or Asiatic Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus telephonus Heine. species La Touche Vol. II, p. 38, writes The call is precisely the same as that of the European bird." Perhaps during the next summer we may be able to add to our scanty knowledge of the Cuckoos that visit the Hong Kong Territories.
SWATOW NOTES.
G. A. C. H.
Mr. Robinson has very kindly sent us some notes from his diary regard. ing movements of birds at Swatow, we extract from them the following. Fight between Reef Heron and two Black-eared Kites.
A fight lasting for more than five minutes, in the harbour amongst the shipping, was observed between these birds. The prize was a dead fish or some kind of offal. The Heron won after the most amazing aerobatics. The two unusual things about this encounter were, the presence of the Reef Heron so close to civilization and the fact that one Heron could win in a struggle with two Kites!
Eastern Black-naped or Golden Oriole, Oriolus sinensis indicus.—
Arrived in the third week of April and left in the second week of September somewhat earlier than usual.
Saunder's Gull,Larus saundersi.—
Several flocks of migrating gulls were observed in June. Sparrow, Munia orizivora.—
Java
Two scen on separate occasions. Caldwell doubts whether these birds migrate northward to these parts during summer but Mr. Robinson is
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
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convinced that they do. La Touche I p. 295, writes Kiangsu coast? Fohkien, Kwangtung, resident. It ranges apparently all over South-East Asia, and is found from the Philippine Islands throughout the Dutch East Indies and in the Malay Peninsula."
Spotted-billed Pelican, Pelecanus philippensis.—
A few arrived in the third week in August, their usual time. This bird very occasionally visits the local Territories but we have, as yet, no per- sonal records. Caldwell records it as resident in Kwangtung. August 28.
Red Shank, Green Shank, Dunlin, Sandpiper, Golden Plover and a few Snipe observed.
September 6.
Small flight of duck observed.
September 26.
Snipe abundant; first flight of teal scen.
September 29.
Several large wisps of snipe passed over screaming at a great height. October 4.
Snipe plentiful.
October 8.
Teal increasing but not yet abundant.
October 29.
Geese sighted for the first time well inland from Chim Khau.
October 30.
Widgeon in large numbers on Hopon lagoons.
November 3.
Three Swinhoc's Yellow-nibbed Duck shot on the lagoons near Masu. Have neither shot nor sighted this duck in Swatow before; I believe it migrates well to the south of Swatow.
November 4.
Pintail, pochard and widgcon at Chim Khau. Very unusual that pochard should be found so carly in the Season. They usually come down on very hard weather in the North.
November 8.
At about 11 p.m. several skeins of geese passed over in full cry.
ICHTHYOLOGY.
EULAMIA MELANOPTERUS?
On October 9th a shark was caught near Kowloon Docks and Mr. A. Gillard who saw the fish caught very kindly sent me the details and a
December 1932.
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