I. Wild Birds and C.A. McVean.マクヴェインと野鳥

--McVean was born in 1838 at Isle of Iona, as first son of Rev. Donald McVean and McLead.

1-1. Birds in Hebrides ヘブリディーズ諸島；野鳥の宝庫

--

1-2. Meeting with Henry Davenport Graham ヘンリー・ダベンポートグラハムとの出会い

--H.D. Graham was a Royal Navy, was fascinated by natural history when he stationed at the Mediterranean station during 1840s, and retired before 30 years from the Navy. After walking around the Britain, he made up mind to settle down at Iona to investigate the ruin of Abby and wild birds. He asked assistance to Rev. McVean and stayed at the Manse. He employed little Colin as assistant and measured the ruin. He published his first paper entitled "Ruin of Iona Abby (1855)."

--Davenport's next target was wild birds.

II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 1874-78, VOL. IV.

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH SESSION, 1874-75.ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY. — The fourth meeting of the society for the session took place last night at No.5 St Andrew Square — Dr Ramsay H. Traquair in the chair. (omitted) Some notes sent by Mr Colin A. M’Vean “Ornithology of Yedo” were then read. They were of a very interesting character, containing a description of the city of Yedo, and mentioning that enormous numbers of wild fowl visit it, and seem to be in no fear of molestation from the inhabitants, and stating that the birds are marked by the general characteristics of British birds. Many of the species were described in studying them owning to the reverence in which birds are held by the Japanese.

エジンバラ王立自然科学協会論文集、1874年第4回会議，エジンバラ、セント･アンドリュー･スクウェア5番地

コリン･マクヴェインによって『江戸の野鳥』と題する小論が読み上げられた。本稿は実に興味深いもので江戸の町の様子と、そこに多数の野鳥が棲んでおり、また渡ってくることが述べられている。

2-1I MAIN PAPER

(1) Copy of this paper can be bought from Amazon.comアマゾンで購入することが出来ます。

(2) Original copy of this paper is preserved by a descendant of Gubbins family. 元原稿はガビンズ家の子孫の方がお持ちです。

(3) Just before leaving Tokyo to home on March 1873, McVean made sketch of wild birds around former Edo Castle and Tsukiji area.1873年3月の一時帰国の直前、マクヴェインは旧江戸城や築地周辺で野鳥のスケッチしている[McVean Diary 1873]。

(4) McVean received some advices from James Dalgresh of Fifa, before he submitted this article to the society.この小論を作成し、協会に投稿する前に、マクヴェインはジェームス･ダルグレシュからいくつかの助言を得ている。

(5) After McVean presented this article in the society, he received correspondence from Henry Eeles Dresser, Victorian ornithologist.この発表後、ヴィクトリア朝を代表する鳥類学者のHenry Eeles Dresserから連絡が入り、日本の野鳥についての情報と部分標本の提供が申し込まれた。

II. REMARKS

(1) McVean presented this paper for the 4th annual meeting of RPS, which was published in the journal. The paper describes the birds around Edo Castle of early Meiji period (around 1870). In 1872, McVean was ordered to survey the castle by Yamao, head of Survey Department, and investigated the site quite many times. Probably at that time, McVean was so fascinated by varieties of wild birds that he could not help to sketch and investigate them. He was nature-lover as well as amature ornithologist.

1872年日本橋大火の後の再建計画作成を済ませるとすぐ、マクヴェンらはすぐに江戸城内外の測量を山尾庸三から指示される。江戸城は、一部は新政府の官庁として使われたが、大政奉還から3年が過ぎ、その中心部は大変荒廃していた。岩倉使節団に同行しなかった官僚の中で、山尾庸三と佐野常民が中心となり皇居の建設事業を開始する。前年の1871年、横山松三郎は写真記録を取り始めたとき、太政官制度取調御用掛マクヴェインも城内をくまなく歩き回り、測量起点を定め、測量を始めた。日記には測量をしたことは述べられているだけで、作業に関わる記録はない。おそらく業務記録はすべて山尾に渡したのであろう。3年も人が住まなかった城内はおそらく自然に返り、マクヴェインにとって動植物を見るかっこうのチャンスだったのであろう。

(2) James Graham (1880); The Birds of Iona and Mull.ジェームス・グラハム『アイオナとマルの鳥類(1880)』。

・グラハムはもと海軍士官で、博物学に対する興味を捨てきれず、25歳で退役してそじん博物学者の道を歩み始めた。1846年にアイオナ島にやってきて、ここで長期に渡ってフィールドワークを実施した。このとき、少年だったマクヴェインはグラハムに助手として雇われ、最初はアイオナの遺跡を、次に鳥類の調査を実施した。遺跡調査は1850年に『アイオナ島の遺跡The Antiquities of Iona(1850)』として出版されたが、もう一つの方の成果は1878年にグラハムが亡くなってしまい出版されなかった。マクヴェインや友人の鳥類学者たちは、グラハムの遺構をまとめて1880年に出版した。この二つの本の中で、マクヴェイン少年がグラハムの手足となりながら、彼から多くのものを学んだことがわかる。

PP.144-154.

III. Notes on the Ornithology of Yedo. By Colin A. McVean, Esq. Communicated by the Secretary.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

I purpose giving in this paper a short account of the birds observed by myself frequenting Yedo, the capital of Japan. During a residence of some years in that city I was much struck with the extraordinary number of birds of various kinds to be seen within its boundaries. The profusion of bird life indeed appeared to me to be specially worthy of remark, bearing in mind the great extent and population of Yedo, and the traffic and noise of its busy streets. In the midst of this, and often within reach of the cast of a trout-rod from the sides of crowded streets, wild fowl of all descriptions, from a snipe to a swan, floated quietly at their ease or fed on land, without heeding the bustle around them, or being disturbed by the passing crowds. They were, indeed, very rarely molested, owing, I believe, to the shadow of the old law, which made it death to kill a duck in the moats and waters within the town. The law still protects them, though the death penalty has been removed, and I was therefore obliged to content myself by watching their movements with a field-glass,

from the roadways and lanes, at a convenient distance. In order properly to understand how such numbers and varieties of wild birds can take up their quarters in the very heart of a large city (and this is perhaps the chief feature I have to communicate), a short description of Yedo will be necessary.

Yedo, the present capital of Japan,* is situated at the head of the gulf that bears its name, on the east coast of the island of Nipon, in lat. 35° 42' N., and long. 139° 50' E. approx. The city was founded about three hundred years ago, has a strong castle, and, until 1868, was the chief stronghold of the Tycoons, or commanders-in-chief of the imperial forces, who for some centuries had usurped the chief executive power—a power which belonged alone to the Mikado, who was kept like a state prisoner in his palace in Kioto, the ancient capital of the country. Since the revolution of 1868, which abolished the Tycoonate and restored the emperor to full power, the Mikado has resided in Yedo. The rivers, or branches of one river—Sumida and Nakagawa—fall into the Gulf of Yedo ; one branch passing through the city, and the other just outside its bounds. Between the mouths of these rivers there is a considerable extent of marshy ground, with patches of tall reeds and open water.

* Yedo has been renamed since the revolution of 1868. It is now called Tokio.

The waters at the head of the gulf and round its shores are very shallow, and the country for some miles inland is gene rally low and flat, and cut up by streams and canals, with here and there ridges of higher ground often thickly wooded. The greater part of Yedo is built on low land, hardly more than ten feet above the level of high water. It covers an area of about twenty-five square miles, and has a population of 700,000.

The castle occupies the end of a spur of higher ground, that runs through one side of the town from so\ith-west to north-east, and is surrounded by three moats, beside* branches, from one to two or three hundred feet in width, t\e extent of the outer moat being fully five miles round. Beteides the main river and moats, several small rivers run through the city ; also numerous canals which are generally bordeVed by firs and pine-trees. Like cities in other parts of the world,Vr5edo has its aristocratic quarter, business quarter, and poorer localities. In the aristocratic quarter the houses and yashikis of t^s ex-Daimios have generally a considerable extent of garden ground around them, beautifully laid out, and always in imitation of the natural landscape, there being invariably a small lake or pond, with rushes, in corners, surrounded with bamboo and other trees. Even in the most crowded business centres gardens are found so arranged and laid out that, sitting under the verandah overlooking the indispensable pond, it is hard to realise that outside the belt of bamboo there are streets as crowded and busy, without exaggeration, as Princes Street or the North Bridge in Edinburgh, at the busiest time of the day. Within the inner moat of the castle are some very beautiful grounds, with fine old trees and miniature lakes, streams, and waterfalls, and even rice-fields. The same are to be found on a smaller scale within temple and yashiki or palace grounds of all the ex-Daimios. These grounds, and the numerous streams, moats, and canals, with their wooded margins, give room and shelter to the birds.

The following authorities have been consulted in preparing the catalogue of species : (1.) Temminck and Schlegel—" Fauna Japonica : Aves." (2.) Captain Blakiston—" On the Ornithology of Northern Japan," Ibis, 1862, p. 309. (3.) Do.— " Corrections and Additions" to the foregoing paper, Ibis, 1863, p. 97. (4.) Henry Whitely, jun.—" Notes on Birds collected near Hakodadi, in Northern Japan," Ibis, 1867, p. 193. (5.) Eobert Swinhoe — "Notes on the Ornithology of Northern Japan," Ibis, 1863, p. 442. (6.) John Cassin—Paper on"

Birds Collected in Japan," in vol. ii. of Commodore M. C. Perry's " Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the Chinese Seas and Japan in 1852-54 ; " Washington, 1856.

LIST OF SPECIES.

Sea-Eagle (Haliaetus pelagicus), Faun. Jap., pi. 4, p. 11

(1850).—I have once or twice seen this very handsome whitetailed sea-eagle fly over the bay. I was not, however, able to procure a specimen. Osprey (Pandion lmliaetus), Linn. —The osprey is very common in Japan. Two or three may be seen almost any day circling over the shores of the bay of Yedo, seemingly indifferent to the boats and crafts of all kinds that crowd the bay, or the bustle and noise on the wharves. Goshawk (Astur palumbarius).—Is occasionally met with in the capital. Shortly before I left, one was caught alive in

a trap specially set for him, in the grounds of the ex- Prince of Chikusen. It was probably attracted by the tame birds of its own species kept by the prince.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).—Is not uncommon. Peregrine (Falco peregrinus).— I have several times seen a falcon which I took to be this species. I was never, however, able to identify it in the hand. Black-winged Kite (Milvus melanotis).—This is perhaps the commonest bird to be found in the towns and villages of Japan, especially those on the sea-coast. On the wing it is rather an elegant bird, as it wheels in graceful circles over the streets, swooping down now and then perhaps to seize a fish from the basket of the unwary pedlar, and at times even attacking the stalls of the street vendors of food. It acts as town scavenger, and hardly anything comes amiss to it.

Japanese Owl (Scops Japonicus), Paun. Jap. pi. 9.—I have often seen a large brown owl, which, I presume, to have been this species, about my house at night ; but not 148 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. having been able to trap him, or get a specimen caught in town, I am unable to name the bird with certainty. Thrush (Tardus fuscatus), Pallas.— This noisy bird is common in all the town gardens.

Naumann's Thrush (Turdus Naumanni), Faun. Jap., p. 61.

—As common as the preceding species, but quiet and shy in its habits.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus?), Faun. Jap., p. 39.

—The red-backed shrike is often seen perched on the top of a fir or other pointed tree. I once caught one that followed a young sparrow into a room in which I was seated. Nightingale (Philomela?). —The nightingale is not uncommon. In the early summer nights its note is to be heard in Yedo wherever there is a garden or shrubbery of any extent.

Cole Tit (Parus ater), Linn.

Marsh Tit (Parus palustris).

These two tits, besides other species which I have been unable to identify, are found in the town in winter. They seem to go out into the woods in summer.

Wagtail (Motacilla lugens), Faun. Jap., p. 60, pi. 25.—

This bird, which strongly resembles the pied wagtail of this country, but with more white about the head and neck, is very common.

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus).—This species is simply swarming everywhere, and builds in every corner about the outside of a house where a nest can be constructed.

Starling (Sturnus cineraceus), Faun. Jap., p. 85. — This bird is as common in Yedo as the common starling is at home. Japanese Crow (Corvus Japonensis), Bp.—As an inhabitant of the towns, this crow rivals the kite in numbers and boldness. When assembled together, they will even enter the houses and carry off anything they can seize. They are very lively active birds, keeping up a continual croak and caw, and making a variety of other noises as they chase one another in strings round the corners, over the house-tops, and through the trees.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picus major), Linn.—This Notes on the Ornithology of Yedo. 149 bird is found wherever there is a clump of trees of sufficient

height and size to tempt a visit.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus eanorus), Linn.—Although this species is mentioned by Temminck and Schlegel in the "Fauna Japonica," I am by no means certain of having met with it. The cuckoo which I have seen in the temple grounds of Shiba in Yedo seemed to be a shy bird, never feeding in the town, and flying very high on its visits to the country, uttering a peculiar sharp cry three or four times in quick succession at intervals as it flew. One passed over my house daily in summer, but always at too great a height to admit of correct identification.

Kingfisher (Alcedo Bengalensis), Gmelin. —This pretty little bird is often seen flitting about the miniature lakes in the gardens of Yedo, flashing in the sunlight as it darts from one side of a pond to the other, or perching upon twigs over hanging the water.

Swallow (Hirundo Javanica), Sparrman.—Not distinguished from the common chimney swallow by Temminck and Schlegel in the "Fauna Japonica." A very common bird, building in the rooms within the houses, where boards are specially put up for them to rest on. They are shut into the house at night with the family.

Spinetailed Swift (Cypselus caudacutus), Latham.—I have frequently seen swifts and spinetailed swallows flying above the city, but at too great a distance to make sure of the species.

Turtle-Dove (Turtur rupicola), Pall.; Bp. Consp., ii., p. 60.—Very common everywhere, and not at all shy, being easily approached within shot. In the days when shooting was allowed, this dove could always be counted on to supplement a badly-filled bag. It is, however, rather dry eating.

Scemmering's Pheasant (Phasianus Scemmerinc/ii), Temm.

—Very common all over Japan.

Diard's Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), Vieillot.—This species makes its home in Yedo, where, in every garden of any size, at least one pair may be found. They even breed

within the town. I have often, while sitting under the verandah, watched them walking about my garden. They are wonderfully tame, but always ready to run under cover

vol. iv. s

150 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society.

on the least movement or unusual noise. It is a curious fact, which I have myself often noted, that just before earthquake shocks, which are very frequent in Japan, the pheasants call

as if frightened. In this way they may almost always be counted on, if within earshot, to give warning of a coming shock a few seconds before it is felt.

Japanese Quail (Coturnix Japonica), Temm. and ScliL, Faun. Jap., p. 103.—Is not rare, though far from being so common as it is in some other countries—Turkey in Europe, for example. Kentish Dotterel (jflgialites Cantianus), Lath.—Is met with in small flocks.

Mantchurian Crane (Grus montignesia), Bp.—This elegant bird—called by the Japanese tsuru—is frequently seen on the marshes between the mouths of the Samida and Nakagawa. It. is held sacred in Japan, and is considered emblematic of long life and good fortune. It is never molested except by the nobles, who sometimes take it while hawking. A hawk that

has killed a tsuru, is specially prized, and receives a sort of title by which it is ever afterwards called. The Japanese often make coloured drawings of this bird, and it is to be seen

beautifully carved in wood over the entrance gate of nearly every Buddhist temple. They are often to be found tame in the gardens of the nobles.

White-naped Crane (Grus leucachen).—Is also abundant, considerable numbers being at times seen together. This bird is more shy, however, than the tsuru, and is not so large and

striking looking.

Common Heron (Ardea cinerea), Linn.—This species is also met with, but is somewhat rare, being shy and retired inits habits.

Great White Heron (Herodias alba), Linn.—Not so rare as the preceding. I have also seen a bird resembling at a distance the great white heron, but of a beautiful roseate hue all over.

Little Egret (Herodias garzetta).—Very common. It is easily tamed, and becomes bold and familiar after a few days' confinement.

Night Heron (Ardea goisaga).—Equally common. I have seen a perfect cloud of them rise from a favourite clump of trees when disturbed.

Notes on the Ornithology of Yedo. 151

Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Linn.—The bittern is commonly found among the reeds or the margins of ponds. It is very shy, although when in good cover it allows one to approach very near before taking wing.

Spoonbill (Platalea major), Faun. Jap., p. 119, pi. 75.— Has been recognised, but is rarely met with.

Japanese Ibis (Geronticus Nippon).—Is frequently met with in the marshes and paddy fields.

Curlew (probably Numenius australis), Gould.—I have repeatedly seen a bird which appeared to me to be of this species, but it is not common. It seemed to be smaller than

the European bird.

Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta), Linn.—I have only once seen the avocet in Yedo.

Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Linn. ; Temm. and Schl.,

Faun. Jap, p. 112.—Is very plentiful in winter.

Snipe (Gallinago media, Leach ; and Gallingo stenura),

Temm.—Plentiful in the market. They are snared and caught by bird-lime, along with the preceding species. In fact, all birds found in the market, including ducks, etc., have

either been netted or taken by bird-lime.

Painted SmvE^Bynchtsa capensis), Linn.—This species is common just outside the city, and I have no doubt is to be found within its bounds also, though I have never seen it there.

Temminck's Sandpiper (Tringa Temminckii), Leister.

Dunlin Sandpiper (Tringa alpina), Linn.

Thick-billed Sandpiper (Tringa crassirostris), Faun. Jap.,

p. 107, pL 64.

I believe I have seen these three species; but from the difficulty of obtaining specimens, it is not easy to pronounce definitely.

Baillon's Crake (Crex Bailloni), Vieillot.—I have met with one or two specimens of this bird in Yedo.

Water-rail (Rallus aquaticus), Temm. and Schl., Faun. Jap.,

p. 112.—Is not uncommon. It seems, however, larger than the European bird.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Linn.—I have several times seen the moorhen, but it is far from common.

Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhyneas), Baillon.

152 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society.

Grey-lag Goose (Anser form), Steph.

Bean Goose (Anser segetum), Steph.

White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Gmelin. These four species are very common.

Snow Goose (Chen hyperborea), Boie.—I have also seen the snow goose, though rarely. It was my fortune to have my office—a branch of the Board of Works—situated on the

banks of a lake formed by a break in the outer moat, a favourite resting-place for crowds of ducks and geese of all descriptions. The noise made by the birds - was at times

distracting, and I was often tempted to stroll out in the garden to watch them at play, when they would allow me to approach within thirty or forty yards without showing the

slightest signs of uneasiness.

Hooper Swan (Cygnus musicus?).—The most conspicuous bird to be seen on the moats in winter is the swan, but of what species I am not able to say with certainty, as the laws

forbidding the killing or capture of birds within the bounds of the city are rigidly enforced, and I was consequently unable to obtain a specimen. I remarked, however, that the

bird is not common in this part of Japan, and that I have never seen one in the market. Nearly every winter two or three pairs took up their quarters on the moats, always in

the same place each year, and I may here remark that the different kinds of water-fowl seemed to attach themselves to particular haunts.

Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Linn. ; Faun. Jap., p. 128.—Common in the winter season.

Gadwall (Anas strepera), Linn.—Common in the winter season.

Pintail (Dafila acuta), Linn. ; Faun. Jap., p. 128.—Common in the winter season.

Mallard (Anas boschas).—Generally distributed, occurring in considerable numbers.

Garganey (Querquedula circia), Linn. —Frequently met with.

Common Teal (Querquedula crecca), Temm. and Schl.,

Faun. Jap., p. 127.—Only a winter visitor to the city, but at that season it is extremely abundant. Flocks of teal are

Notes on the Ornithology of Yedo. 153

literally swarming everywhere. Some idea of their numbers may be formed from the fact, that on a pond in the grounds of the ex-Prince of Chikusen, situated only a few hundred

yards from my own house, where they are preserved for sport, the estimated number on the water any day during the season is 10,000. I have every reason to believe that the estimate is correct. At night these flocks go out of town, but are always back in the pond before sunrise.

Mandarin Duck (Anas galericulata), Linn. ; Temm. and SchL, Faun. Jap., p. 127.—This beautiful little bird is generally found in pairs, the male and female keeping together the

whole year. They roost in the trees in many of the gardens and temple grounds.

Summer Duck (Anas sponsa).—Is often found in company with the mandarin duck.

Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Linn. ; Temm. and Schl., Faun. Jap., p. 127.

Golden Eye (Anas clangula), Linn. ; Temm. and Schl., Faun. Jap., p. 128.

Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata), Leach.

Scamp Duck (Fuligula marila), Linn.

Harlequin (Anas histrionica), Linn. ; Temm. and Schl., Faun. Jap., p. 129.

American Wigeon (Anas Americana), Gmelin.

Merganser (Mergus serrator), Linn.

The foregoing seven species are all found in the private ponds, often swimming in mixed companies.

Grebe (Podiceps Phillippensis ?).—This little grebe is to be seen everywhere. I have not observed any other species, unless a bird I once saw in a quiet corner within the private grounds of the castle was a grebe. I never saw it again, nor had I previously noticed it. I once, however, saw a painting of it on a Japanese screen. It was a curious-looking bird, and I exhibit a small copy, from memory, of the sketch on the screen.

Cormorant (Carbo cormoranus), Temm. and Schl., Faun.

Jap., p. 129.—The common cormorant ranks first amongst the birds of Yedo as to numbers and permanent habitation. A very large breeding station is situated in a fine grove of 154 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. fir-trees at an angle of the second moat. The birds are in thousands, and the noise of their croaking can be heard a quarter of a mile off as they come in crowds in the evening to roost. The greater number go out to sea daily to fish. They are not at all early birds, as I noticed that they generally left the town for the fishing grounds between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, returning about sunset, always flying in a string, or wedge, like geese. I imagine, however, that the state of the tide influences in some measure their time of leaving and returning. Several smaller colonies exist in various situations within the city, and numbers of the birds remain fishing in the moats and canals all day, being probably too lazy to accompany the crowd on the longer excursion to the sea. I have often seen them diving and coming up within reach of a stick from the bank of a canal where a stream of vehicles and people was passing. The natives tame them and use them for fishing.

Sea-Gull (Larus melanurus), Temm. and Schl, Faun.

Jap., p. 103, pi. 61.

Sea-Gull (Larus ichthyaetus), Pall.

Sea-Gull (Larus brunneicephalus).

Sea-Gull (Larus occidentalis), Aud.

Sea-Gull (Larus niveus), Pall.

I have seen numbers of sea-gulls of the foregoing species frequenting the bay of Yedo. Though not actually in possession of specimens, they could be sufficiently recognised by the description of the various authors who have recorded the occurrence of these gulls in Japanese waters.

IV. Cooperation with Henry Ears Dresserヘンリー･ドレッサーへの協力(1) Dresser's Dispatch to McVean dated February 5, 1875.

6 Tenterden Street W

- or –

110 Cannon Street London 5 Feby 1875

E.C.

Dear Sir

Thanks for your letter and remittance which reached me safely & I enclose herewith formal receipt for the latter. I am sorry you have had no chance of doing anything in ornithology as you are in a splendid country It is not however the great rarities that are most wanted but the ordinary birds that assimilate so closely to your European ones I am the more interested in these because some day if I live & have health & strength I purpose writing a work on the Eastern Palaearctic avifauna, that is I shall include every species not found in the Western Palaearctic region so that the two works combined will constitute a complete work on the entire Palaearctic avifauna. For this purpose I shall require a large number of skins from various localities and especially from China and Japan. I have lately been getting all [JWSwinhoes] duplicates as far as he can spare them (and his duplicates are many) and as far as my finances will allow me to do so will permit me to do so) in advance and shall be very glad to hear from you on the subject. I should like 2 or 300 skins of all sorts of birds chiefly the smaller ones, thrushes, [let……ce] small waders &c You will find the redbreasted Asiatic plover there and also possibly the peculiar spoonbilled little sandpiper with a peculiar bill Both these are good and something like this more especially the latter as you will know. Can you get the large Japanese Sea Eagle with white scapulars. I want, if I can, to get an adult skin of it I need scarcely tell you that the eggs of all the thrushes you will find there are rare and most of them still undescribed Could they not be had ?

The best of the thrushes is Turdus sibiricus which you will doubtless find, but it will not be common.

By the way you might possible help me in another matter also. Some time ago a few tons of all sorts of peculiar monsters, such as dragons, tortoises, & in fact [……..yth] sort of queer animal in all sorts of postures, with some old bells & “sundries” were sent over here from Yedo and sold by weight as old metal to be broken up. I was too late to get any and want to know if you can put me in the way of so doing. A friend of mine got a few and uses them as door weights, letter presses &c for which they are first rate. They look as if they were loot from some old temple. I have a peculiar weakness for all these sorts of things and get hold of them wherever I can. When in Western Texas my room (or tent) generally proved the ultimate destination of the trophies after a scrimmage with redskins & I had no end of weapons & ‘curios’ not to speak of scalps, but a large portion of my loot came to grief on the Red River raid & when the Yankees got a footing in Texas, still I have a few mementoes yet. - I am afraid you will think me a nuisance but if I bother you burn my letter & forget it. - If you can help me to get ‘curios’ & skins I shall be greatly obliged and I need scarcely say that I am always at your service in case I can do anything for you over here. I am a city man (as you will see from the above address) being the representative here of the “Bowling Iron Co” which you will doubtless know by name You are quite correct as to having parts 1-25 minus No 6 which latter was not ready I have been pushing on and have just published parts 35-36. ( a double number) thus closing the third provisional volume I will keep the rest (after part 25) for you here till you return.

Do try and get some eggs of the various thrushes as they are unknown and I dare not publish the articles on them until I get to know what the eggs are like. I should think the natives could help you in this.

Wishing you health & success

I remain

Yours truly

H E Dresser

(2)

15. H.E. Dresser’s Letter to McVean dated February 8, 1874.

Received of Colin A. McVean Esqr C E  For Parts 1/24 of ‘The Birds of Europe’  £12 : 12 : 0

                                                                                             with thanks

For H.E. DRESSER

signed over stamp             H E Dresser

16. McVean met Japanese bird dealer Tatsuno Masashige, and received a list of wild-birds available.

                                                                             Memorandum

Season

                                             2          Sparrow

                                             4          (Inejiro)

                                         4         (Hojiro)

Autumn                2          (Shijugaror)

 ditto                                    4          (Kawaraikor)

  ditto                                  2          (Shime)

  ditto                                  4          (Aoji)

  ditto                                  4          (Kashiranduna)

                                             2          (Kakesu)

Autumn                2          Shrike or Butcher-Bird

                                             2          (Yabutsugumi)

                                             2          (Hiyodou)

                                             4          (Tsugumi)

                                             1          Crow

                                             1          (Hashibuto Karasu) a species of Crow

Autumn                1          (Chogenbo)

  ditto                                  1          (Tsumi)

Summer               2          Swallow

Autumn                2          (Sekirei) a species of Wagtail

                                             3          (Koshigi) a species of Woodcock

                                             3          (Tamashigi)                         ditto

                                             2          (Ubashigi)                            ditto

                                             2          (Yamashigi)                         ditto

Autumn                2          (Isuka)

  ditto                                  2          (Yamagara)

                                             2          (Hitaki)

Summer                               2          (Ohban)

  ditto                                  2          (Kuina) a species of Snipe

                                             2          (Yamabato)  the wild dove

                                             4          (Tobato)  a species of dove

                                             2          Pheasants

                                             2          Quails

Summer               2          Sky-larks

  ditto                                  2          Snipe

1               (Kamome) a species of Seagull

2               (Kogamo) a species of wild duck

1               Cormorant

2               (Muguri), the Oriole

2      (Atori)

                                             2          (Uso)

                                             2          (Ikaru)

Total                            100

The value of them will be about twenty six or seven yen, if cheap; but will be about thirty five or six yen, if dear  - The value of those Birds, which come out from remote parts of the country according to season, can not be estimated, and the above stated value is one of the Birds which it is able to find out here in the season.

                                                                                             Tatsuno Masashige

February 1875, Tokio