232 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Amoy Ornithology. 



saw three birds sailing or floating high in the air with pointed 

 wings and with legs protruded behind. From their size and 

 appearance I took them to be Tantali. 



The examples of Euphcamus swinhoii in my aviary skulk all 

 day in the holes of the rockery, and only come out to feed at 

 night : they roost on the high perches. Phasianus torquatus 

 does not resort to the holes, even when it is frightened. 



August 25th. — The little Button-Quail from Formosa that 

 I had in my aviary was killed this morning by a blow on the 

 back of the head, inflicted hy a " Hwamei." As it was a 

 female in full summer plumage, I will give a description of it. 



Turnix rostrata, nobis (Ibis, 1865, p. 543), ? . Bill Hght 

 indigo with blackish culmen ; rictus and inside of mouth pale 

 indigo. Tongue longo-sagittate, void of papillae. Iris pearly, 

 with a slight tinge of yellow. Legs light indigo, deeper on 

 the joints and toes, with a greenish wart on the tarse. Skin of 

 the face deep bluish-grey. Feathers of the head black, broadly 

 tipped with white. Chin and throat of a deep black, which 

 extends down to the breast. Lower breast, flanks, upper thighs 

 and rump fine deep chestnut. In other respects, as to colouring, 

 this specimen is similar to the females before described [Ibis, 

 1866, pp. 403, 404] . Tail composed of eight soft feathers. 

 Total length of fresh bird 6 inches. 



Dissection showed a cluster of small ova. Caeca about 1*5 

 inch from anus, about 1*25 in. long, black, and bulging at their 

 ends into flask-shaped sacs. Stomach nearly 1 inch long, heart- 

 shaped, and somewhat cai'inated round the narrow sides, with 

 very strong lateral tendons. 



The newly fledged young of Iwus chrysorrhoides are more 

 dusky than the adult, with less decided markings on the 

 plumage. The crown and throat are tinged with blackish- 

 brown, chiefly near the bill. The vent is the same colour as 

 the belly, and not tinted with crimson. I have one adult spe- 

 cimen of this species from this neighbourhood with the vent a 

 dingy yellow. Mark this ! 



A Melanoconjpfia mongolica that I have in a cage has a great 

 deal of white about it, and is becoming whiter and whiter. 

 Several of the Euplocami of both sexes in my aviary are getting 



