Mr. R. Svvinhoe on Amoy Ornithology. 405 



Curiously cuoughj Dr. Giglioli met with the same species on the 

 mainland, near Hongkong. In a letter to me, dated Hongkong, 

 13th January, 1867, he writes, " The other day I made an ex- 

 cursion over the Kowloon Hills to Tankok, in Mirs's Bay. I 

 shot there a most curious Lanius. It is the size of Lanius 

 schach, and has the same long tail, but it differs entirely from 

 it in colour. Besides the forehead and sides of the head, the 

 throat also is of a deep black. The head, neck, back, breast, 

 and abdomen are of a deep leaden-grey ; tiie wings, tail, and 

 thigh-feathers are of a deep black ; the upper and under tail- 

 coverts are of a dusky olive-colour. Can this be a case of 

 melanism of L. schach ? I doubt it ; for in cases of melanism 

 the distribution of colours remains the same, while in my speci- 

 men it certainly is not so. The black throat and the olive tail- 

 coverts prove the contrary. In Bonaparte^s ' Conspectus ' 

 [i. p. 361], amongst the Asiatic Shrikes, is a species named, 

 by the French naturalist Garnot, L. tnelas. Can it be that?^^ 

 It will be as well to compare Dr. Giglioli's description with that 

 of my bird, for which I propose 



Lanius melanthes, sp. nov. 



Frontal band, over eye, whole face, and throat black. Thighs 

 axillaries, wings, and tail also black ; remiges lighter and browner. 

 Bill and claws black. Iris deep brown. Rest of plumage deep 

 dusky smoke-grey tinged with buff on back, rump, and under 

 parts; reddish-chocolate on vent. Length 9"75 in., wing 4 in., 

 tail 5*3 in. In form very similar to L. schach. 



Not far from the neighbourhood where the last was procured 

 stood a large Banyan tree with an extended leafless branch. 

 To the tip of this branch flew a diminutive bird uttering a shrill 

 note, somewhat like that of a Titmouse, and began with quick 

 movement to preen its feathers. My companion brought it 

 down with a charge of dust-shot, and, as it dropped senseless in- 

 to the stream below, I saw by its lively scarlet and peculiar form 

 that it was a Dicceutn. I was delighted, of course. It turns 

 out to be a male of the " Scarlet-backed Flower-Picker" of Dr. 

 Jerdon (B. Ind. i. p. 373), Dicaum coccineum (Scop.), but 

 better known as D. cruentatum (L.). We looked and watched 

 in vain for another example. The natives exclaimed at its beauty^ 



