Mr. R. Swinhoe on Amoy Ornithology. 397 



now-a-days to lay hold of for the purpose of differentiating races 

 or closely-allied species. Sometimes only one sex is described 

 in a bird that differs sexually in plumage. As a case in point 

 I will mention that of the Hawfinch, Coccofhraustes vulgaris. 

 In Mr. Tristram's collection I saw a Hawfinch from Mount 

 Sinai. We compared it with the descriptions of all the authors 

 that Mr. Tristram had at hand, and he had a goodly series. 

 The male British Hawfinch only was described. We were 

 obliged of course to suppose that the female was similar ; but 

 we had our doubts, and on returning to London I procured a 

 pair, when, true enough, the female presented the same pecu- 

 liarity of wing (which was its chief distinction from the male) 

 as did the Sinaitic skin. To return to the Coot. The specimens 

 I before took home from Pekin and Hankow were younger 

 examples than the present. I compared them with an English 

 example, and referred them to the same species. With this 

 last procured before me, my doubts are aroused. I will add a 

 note on this adult male procured at Amoy : — 



Fulica atra?,(^ . Length 16 inches, wing 8*8 in. Bill from 

 crest 2 inches, from rictus 1*5 in. Bare part of tibia "8 in., tarse 

 2'6 in., middle toe and claw 3*9 in. Tail rounded, 3') in. long, 

 of fourteen soft, broad feathers nearly smothered in the elon- 

 gated upper and lower tail-coverts. Closed wing extending 

 very slightly beyond tail. Bill and crest pale bluish-grey, 

 nearly dead white ; the former tinged on basal half with rose- 

 colour. Iris bright rich chestnut. Legs and feet pale bluish- 

 grey washed with olive- green, blackish at joints and near edges 

 of web-festoons, and variegated on tarse with same. Claws 

 compressed, except the middle one, which is falcated on its inner 

 edge, all blackish-brown. A garter of orange-yellow, tinged 

 with green, round tibia, just below the descent of the feathers. 

 Head and neck black, glossed slightly with dark green. Upper 

 parts greyish-brown with a tinge of olive, nearly black on tail- 

 coverts and rump. Lower parts greyer, with the feathers here 

 and there tipped with whitish. Under tail-coverts and apical 

 third of tail deep black. Quills greyish-brown, blacker near 

 tips, with blackish-brown stems. Edge round carpus, edges of 



