Weihaiwei, Dec. 25.—I have been trying to make up a tentative list of birds to be seen in Weihaiwei during the winter but owing to war conditions I am afraid it will be far from complete: the outside country, including the Lagoons and salt-pans are out of bounds, so I am unable to look for the smaller ducks and waders, or to stalk the wily Bean-Goose which I know must be there somewhere. I have already recorded that the hills are denuded of birds, and even the adventurous Magpies which are given to flying high in the autumn to play their games on the hill-tops are now sticking closely to the valleys and (optimistic creatures that they are) already working on their nests for a spring some months away they refuse to recognize the fact that within a few weeks it half-built homes will be stif with frozen ow. The North China Tits (our Lesser Grey Tit) are much in evidence among the Acacias, aut I seldom see the Greenfinches which must 5e sheltering somewhere among the Firs: the Tree Sparrows are, of course, to be seen everywhere, and like their brethren in Shanghai they stick closely to the houses. Among those which are entirely winter birds are the beautiful Durian Redstarts and, if my ears do not deceive me, the pretty little Goldcrests which announce their presence by mouse-like squeaks among the fir-trees. Over the sea one catches ight of Herring-Gulls and others which I have not yet identified, while Ruddy Sheldrake and Widgeon may be seen close to the shore. The prettiest sight I have seen today is a_ Dusky Thrust feeding from the berries of a tall Bar-
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