260 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Foochow. 



with us in more or less numbers, many retiring in summer 

 south-eastwards to Formosa and the Philippines. M. ocularis 

 (which Mr. Blyth identifies with M. dukhunensis of Sykes) visits 

 our coast in winter, and returns westward to the interior pro- 

 vinces to breed. But M. lugubris evidently comes on its bru- 

 mal migrations from North China and Japan ; and Amoy, so far 

 as I have yet observed, appears to be its most southerly limit, 

 only a very few occurring there each winter. Whether these 

 three, to me obviously species, may be considered mere climatal 

 varieties, I leave to the superior learning of those who have more 

 studied this question than myself. Certain it is that such species 

 as Yunx torquilla and Passer montanus are not subject to any 

 change, though found under very varied circumstances both of 

 food and climate throughout the greater part of the old world. 

 The distinctions that mark the difference among these three 

 forms of the Pied Wagtail are certainly constant in all the spe- 

 cimens in different stages of their development that I have 

 examined. Motacilla boarula never undergoes a change either 

 in form or colour, and its distribution is extremely wide ; whereas 

 the Budytes group, as every ornithologist well knows, often puz- 

 zles the most discerning by its numerous congeneric forms. One 

 species of this group visits this coast from the interior regularly 

 every winter ; and those in full moulted plumage that I have pro- 

 cured in spring are in every way undistinguishable from the true 

 Budytes jiava of Linnseus. In Formosa, however, another species 

 appears with a green head in summer garb ; and had it not brown 

 cheeks, I should feel inclined to refer it to the form prevalent 

 in the British Islands — B. rayi. 



A flock of Crackles {Acridotheres cristatellus) are busy search- 

 ing for small mollusks as the tide recedes; and interspersed 

 among them are a few of the Parson Crow {Corvus pectoralis). 

 The black species, C. sinensis, is also found in Foochow, and can 

 at once be recognized by its peculiar " caw," which much resem- 

 bles in sound that of the large black species so abundant at Pe- 

 kin [C.japonensis). A few of the Pied Crackle [Gracupica nigri- 

 collis) also occur at Foochow. 



As we approach the flat ground at the base of the hill, 

 we find the water divided into square fishing-beds, enclosed 



