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July, 1906|
BIRDS OBSERVED TRAVELING FROM YOKOHAMA TO MANILA
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and cold days. Mt. Fuji was covered with snow and was visible all day. There are two species of gulls about the harbor in great numbers; the small one feeds in compact flocks and looks like the Bonaparte gull, the larger and more numerous species resembles the glaucous-winged gull. The black kites, Milvus ater melanotis (T. and S.), are few in numbers about the bay. We left Yokohama at it a.m. for Kobe via the Inland Sea. None of the small gulls followed us out of the bay but the large gulls were with the ship until dark. It is amusing to see a gull reach forward with one foot and scratch his head without disturbing his flight; and I am always surprised to observe the apparent ease with which they keep up with a ship. The "America Maru" makes about fourteen knots, and yet these large gulls were flying certainly not less than three times that speed, for they continually crossed and recrossed our course and often circled backward to come up with us again. It would be interesting to make trials with a fast motor boat or turbine steamer to ascertain to what extent gulls could keep up. Gulls, however, are slow compared with albatrosses which take side trips of much greater extent and often rest on the water with every appearance o wondering why the ship is such a slow thing.

February 20—Arrived at Kobe about noon; both large and small gulls here in equal numbers. Milvus in great numbers, fully twenty over the ship at times. Left Kobe at midnight.

February 21—This morning very foggy in Inland Sea; three or four large gulls following ship; a few others passing in various directions. A diving bird was occasionally seen. A dozen or more gulls following in the afternoon.

February 22—Arrived at Nagasaki early this morning; a few crows and large gulls about the shipping; Milvus very numerous. There are usually some interesting birds in the markets here. Today I saw the following:

Turdus pallidus and T. obscurus.—These two thrushes were abundant; in color pattern they resemble the American robin but they are lighter colored and smaller. Another species which I noted as ruddy in color I cannot name.

Geocichla varia.—This is a large spotted thrush; not abundant.

Hypsipeles amaurolis.—This bulbul or fruit thrush is a common species in the market.

Turtur orientalis ?—Numerous doves of this genus were seen and the species is probably correct.

Teron seboldi.—Several examples of this greeu tree-dove were examined.

Phasianus sp.—The pheasants noted could not be identified on sight.

Amapelis japonicus.—The Japanese wax-wing was seen in some numbers; probably 40 to 60 all told. It is an attractive species having the tip of tail rose-red and the greater wing-coverts decorated with dull red. This species has not been seen with sealing-wax-like tips to the secondaries.

Gallinago solilaria japonica.—I saw a few snipe which I took to have been of this race.

Rostralula capensis.—The curious painted snipe was represented by a single specimen.

Beside the above, two species of larks (Anthus) and a duck (Anas) were seen. When at Nagasaki in November, 1901, I purchased in the market a jay (Garrulus japonicus (T. and S.), and a specimen of the remarkable Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata Linn.) both of which I still have among thrushes and bulbuls purchased at the same time.

At 3 p.m. we got under way.for Shanghai; two hours later a dozen large gulls were following the ship.