138 Mr. R. Swinhoe — A Voice on Ormf.holugn from Formosa. 



considered an outstanding genus among the Scolopaces, much as 

 the latter is among the ArdecE. 



September 28th, I met with small parties of Heta^ronds 

 sinensis. They wend their way southwards from Amoy at this 

 season; but what they do in Formosa during their migrations I 

 cannot make out. They were here, as I before remarked, in 

 spring. I have not found them resident during summer in 

 Formosa; and they are not quoted from Japan, or known in 

 North China. They occur here scantily when they are met 

 with, and I fancy they are blown off their course to our shores. 

 Motacilla boarula and Budijtes taivana * have returned from 

 the hills. The latter is now abundant enough in the flats 

 and fields. Swallows and Sand-Martins are wandering about 

 without a settled habitation. Walking along the avenue this 

 morning my attention was attracted by a Halcyon's scream, and 

 two birds, one chasing the other, dashed through the thicket. 

 The first bird I was not quick enough to catch sight of. The 

 pursuing bird was an Oriole [Oriolus chinensis). The Oriole dis- 

 continued the chase, and, perching on a tree not far from me, 

 began to whistle its absurd attempt at a song, as if glorying in 

 the defeat of its enemy. It was a mature bird, and looked very 

 showy in the sunlight. The colour of the iris was not red, but 

 just as I have described before. On returning I came close on 

 the Halcyon : it was H. coromanda, a rare bird in the low country. 

 I was so fas cinated in watching the lovely pink-plumaged fellow, 

 that I let slip the opportunity of securing him. He was very 

 impatient of being watched, and flew as I followed from one tree 

 to another. Once he dashed against some leaves, and flew back 

 to his perch, as Flycatchers are wont to do. He appeared to 

 have caught something ; but what it was I could not see. 



Takow, S.W. Formosa, 

 1 October, 1865. 



* [This word is not quite plain in the manuscript. If it has been 

 rightly read, we may mention that we are not aware that the Yellow 

 Wagtail of Formosa, probably indicated by it, has been yet described as a 

 distinct species ( Cf. Ibis, 1863, pp. 309, 310).— Ed.] 



