406 ISLAND LIFE 



CoLUMBiD^ (Pigeons). 



34, T,reron formosoc: Allied to Malayan species. 



35, Sphenoccrcus sororius. Allied to J\lalay species and to S. sieholdi of 



Japan. No allies of these two birds inhabit China. 



36, Chalcophcqjs formosana. Allied to the Indian species which extends 



to Tenasserim and Hainan, 



TETRAONiDiE (Gi'ouse and Partridges). 



37. Oreoperdix crudigularis. A peculiar genus of partridges, 



38, Bambusieola sonorivox. Allied to the Chinese B. thoracica. 



39. Arcoturnix rostrata. Allied to the Chinese A. hlaJcistonii. 



Ph ASIAN ID J3 (Pheasants). 



40. Phasiamis formosanus. Allied to P. torquatiLS of China. 



41. Euplocamus sicinhoii. A very peculiar and beautiful species allied to 



the tropical fire-backed pheasants, and to the silver pheasant of 

 North China, 



Strigid^e (Owls), 



42, Athene pardalota. Closely aUied to a Chinese species. 



43. Leriipigius liamhroeMi. Allied to a Chinese species. 



This list exhibits to us the marvellous fact that more 

 than half the peculiar species of Formosau birds have 

 their nearest allies in such remote regions as the Himalayas, 

 South India, the Malay Islands, or Japan, rather than in 

 the adjacent parts of the Asiatic continent. Fourteen 

 species have Himalayan allies, and six of these belong to 

 genera which are unknown in China. One has its nearest 

 ally in the Nilgherries, and five in the Malay Islands ; 

 and of these six, four belong to genera which are not 

 Chinese. Two have their only near allies in Japan. 

 Perhaps more curious still are those cases in which, 

 though the genus is Chinese, the nearest allied species 

 is to be sought for in some remote region. Thus we have 

 the Formosan babbler {Garrulax Qmficcps) not allied to the 

 species found in South China, but to one inhabiting North 

 India and East Thibet ; while the black bulbul {Hyi:)si'petes 

 nigerrwnis), is not allied to the Chinese species but to an 

 Assamese form. 



In the same category as the above we must place eight 

 species not peculiar to Formosa, but which are Indian or 

 Malayan rather than Chinese, so that they offer examples 

 of discontinuous distribution somewhat analogous to wdiat 



