40 



Observ. " Some of the specimens are entirely in the young plumage, others show every 

 step of maturity. The moult is probably completed before the bird begins to breed, 

 and those in the youngest garb are doubtless the produce of late nests last year " 

 (Siinnhoe). 



The black mesial stripe gradually expands on the lower part of the chest, and is scarcely 

 united to the black of the breast. 



This interesting little Munia was discovered by Mr. R. Swinhoe during 

 his sojourn in the Island of Formosa in 1865, and in a letter to the 

 ' Ibis ' (p. 356) of the same year he described it, adding the following 

 remarks : — 



" On the 26th of March my hunter returned from the hills (Takow, 

 Formosa). He had penetrated no great distance, as his collection, consisting 

 cliiefly of birds of the plain, and containing no Aca'pitres, plainly showed. 

 He brought, however, an extremely interesting species from the lower 

 range. This was a Munia of which there were several specimens both in 

 young and old plumage, dead and alive. It is a new species, closely allied 

 to M. riibronigra of Hodgson, but singularly differing from it in the 

 occiput and nape being brown instead of a rich black, as are the other dark 

 parts. This bird supplies another curious confirmation of what I have 

 before stated as to the affinities of the fauna of this island with that of the 

 Himalaya, rather than with that of China. It has the black ventral stripe 

 of J/, rubronigra which is wanting in M. sinensis. I propose to call it 

 Munid formosana.''^ 



The four specimens in my own collection were procured by Mr. R. 

 Swinhoe in 1865, two adults and two young ones, these latter birds are 

 in an intermediate and curious change of plumage. 



I have transcribed Mr. Swinhoe's descriptions, which were taken from 

 fresh individuals, and correspond exactly with those I possess ; two of 

 which are now figured for the first time. 



Nothing is known with regard to the extent of country inhabited by 

 this bird in the Island of Formosa, or its nest and ejiffs. 



Canon H. B. Tristram kindly lent me two specimens which were 

 collected in Formosa by Mr. R. Swinhoe. 



