Three subspecies of Muscicapa narcissina Temminck of the Riu Kiu Islands are discussed. The size difference is clear between southern owstoni and northern jakuschima, but very slight between the latter and shonis. The maximum difference of wing length is:
owstoni_??_jakuschima 5.5mm
owstoni_??_shonis 3-5mm
shonis_??_jakuschima 0.5-2.5mm
The auther, therefore, considers shonis a synonym of jakuschima.

View full abstract

Three species are reported as stragglers with taxonomic notes: Pinicola enucleator kamtschatkensis (Dybowski) new to Sakhalin, Garrulus glandarius orii Kuroda and Muscicapa narcissina jakuschima Hartert of Yakushima to Saitama, Hondo and Muroto, Shikoku respectively.
It is to be noticed that some narcissina of Hondo has olivaceous back and the wing-formula of the juvenals is often "Riu Kiu Is. type"! The source of "Seven Is. of lzu (? Hachijo)" for the race jakuschima in the Hand-list, 1942 is two specimens (No. 22. 0182 and 29. 2808) in Momiyama Coll., which the author determined here as narcissina of olivaceous back.

View full abstract

The present paper includes brief accounts of a total of nine (9) species of shorebirds considered as rare visitors in Japan which I have collected from January 1950 to June 1954 on the Nanko mudflat along the shore of Osaka Bay. Records have been maintained on a total of 173 study trips made in this area during the above period. A more detailed, complete publication of my observations in this area is contemplated within the next few years.
The following species are here recorded:
1) Tringa stagnatilis (see Tori, No. 65)
2) Pseudototanus guttifer (see Tori, No. 65)
3) Calidris canutus canutus
4) Calidris ferruginea
5) Limicola falcinellus sibirica
6) Crocethia alba
7) Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii
8) Himantopus himantopus himantopus
9) Glareola pratincola maldivarum

View full abstract

In April, 1955, the author found the breeding colonies of the Japanese Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, near Nirazaki City, Yamanashi. The colonies were found along the extensive valley cliffs of the River Kamanashi and its tributary, Shiokawa, which flow through the volcanic lava of Mts. Kayagatake and Yatsugatake to penetrate the Nirazaki City into Kofu Plain.
Five separate colonies were found at: 1) Takanosu cliff 38m high and 350mlong: 17 nests, 2)Kannonbuchi cliff (about 500m from 1) 33m high and 150mlong; two groups of nests, 3) Unnamed cliff (1000m from 2) 29m high and 150m long; 2 nests, 5) Shichiriiwa] cliff (near Nirazaki) 29m high, 4 colonies along a 3km cliff. Notes are given of its nests (natural hollows of lava, etc. at least 6 meters apart from each other), flight, voice, food (with some evidence of group feeding), relation to other birds and breeding behavior.

View full abstract

This is the result of a year research on the breeding ecology of Microsarcops cinerea (Blyth), made during May, 1955 and May, 1956 in Kyoto and Mie, the first breeding evidence from western Honshu (first suggested by Mr. J. Kikkawa).
The descriptions of the adult, juvenals and chicks, the field identification, and the sight (since 1951) and breeding (1955, 1956) records in Mie, Kyoto and Shiga, are given. It prefers wet fields, living in winter in flocks of 5-50 birds, but breeds by pairs territorially. In Ogura, Kyoto some 30 pairs breed and winter within an area of 700 Chobu (648 ha). They nest on the ridges of cultivated paddyfields, often close to the paths, but rather apart from each other, the shortest distance 250 m. When an intruder approaches within about 100-200 m. from the nest, the male tries successive attacks (most violent when they have youg chicks) against him/it utterring sharp notes, helped by the males of the adjacent territories. But, even these helpers are attacked when they come too close to that nest. Many nests are damaged by farmers who cultivate the field once or twice during April and June, thus they often renested near the former nest (once as close as 7 m.). The egg-laying season is from middle March to late May; 4 eggs but often 3 in case of renesting, the incubation period being 27-30 days. Individual variation is found in the nest (straws mixed in fertilizer are used) and egg arrangement (see photos). Injury-feigning is chiefly done by the male, a bird led the author about 80 m. whene it was attacked by the other male of the adjacent territory. Known and newly examined food items are finally given.

View full abstract

Nemuro Plain is a mixture of woods, grazing pastures and wet grasslands, with very low human population (mostly stock-farmers). Fields are frozen with thick snow during November and April, but the breeding birds are abundant in number though very patchy in nesting-density. Some birds nest as early as in late March, the peak being from late June to August and the breeding is ended in early September.
The factors affecting their breeding success were analysed based on the 104 nests of 29 species observed in.1953 (over 200 nests of 55 species were recorded). Only 32 (30%) nests were successful and 72 (70%) failed, by reasons of:
Human factors 69.5% 1) Deforestation 2) Cutting of grass 3) Collection of marsh-birds' eggs and damage by boys.
Birds and mammals 19.5% Especially crows (detail of their damage is given).
Other reasons 11% Natural factors, winds, rains, etc. and inadequacy of nestsite or nesting technique, etc.

View full abstract

During March and August, 1954, the author investigated the nesting success of 103 nests of 29 species (13 Families) of birds at the wooded and cultivated lands, 850-1000m. of altitude, around Katsuyama-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi, within two kilometers radius The results are as follows:Percentage of human factors (chiefly boys) for total of damage was as high as 68%.

View full abstract

The author made a close observation on the mechanism of the bill and the tongue in captive Crossbills, Loxia curvirostra japonica Ridgway. The bill helps the feet in their climing and acrobatic behavior on the branch. To eat pine-cone seeds, the bill half-opened to be not crossed, and they insert it between the scales, closing it to be crossed to push asaid them. The movement of the tongue was also examined closely. It is put out very fast (about 5 times a second) and is pulled back with a pine-cone seed between the 'tip-tongue' and the 'root', i. e. at the notched end of the former; and the 'wing' of the seed is held sideway to be cut off by the bill. The author also reports of their 'hanging-sleep' under pine-tree branch in wild and captive birds.

View full abstract

The House Swallows were found wintering in an office room in Kyoto since 1953. A dead bird was found on December, 1952 and three more in January 1954. The room is kept warm during the day and the ditch before that office offers insect food for them. Several to 20 birds were counted during the night, and they disappeared in April in 1954.

View full abstract

The above species represented by specimen records are rare additions to the birds of Niigata Prefecture.

View full abstract

A Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor Temminck & Schlegel, was obtained by Mr. Kazo Nitta, 1 November, 1956, at Yokokoshi-mura, Naka-kanbara-gun, Niigata Pref., Honshu. This forms the seventh record of its capture in Japan but the second for Honshiu, all other records being from Kiushiu as given in the text.

View full abstract