Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 399 



In penetrating into the mountain-forests we had no road to 

 follow except what nature aflforded in the nearly dry beds of tor- 

 rents. We ascended one of these with high magnificent wood 

 on either side. The contracted stream eddied and gurgled in 

 rapid course over the rounded shingle, now and then expanding 

 into small shallow tranquil pools, abounding in little spotted, 

 striped Trout-like fish, or leaped with a roar and scattering of spray 

 from some abruptly precipitous rock in the form of a cascade. 

 The coolness of the shade by the side of the stream was delicious 

 after our toilsome walk in the hot sun ; and the glimpses of the 

 distance we caught occasionally through gaps in the jungle were 

 truly enchanting. Butterflies, that are scarcely ever seen at this 

 season (February), at Takow by the sea, were sporting in num- 

 bers about the boulder-masses in the stream, and birds innume- 

 rable were whistling in the trees. Verily this was the paradise 

 of nature in Formosa. The sweet little crimson Pericrocotus 

 griseogxdaris, with its crocus-tinted mate, was busy among the 

 tall branches; and on the tops of the tall trees the Chaptia 

 brauniana sat perched, Drongo-like, uttering loud musical notes, 

 and chasing each other with screams and undulating flight from 

 tree to tree. Its ordinary notes may be syllabled " heeah muncha 

 muncha." This is quite a bird of the high mountain-forests. I 

 did not once see it in the plains, where DicrurtLS macrocercus 

 takes its place. The Chinese of the interior call the Chaptia 

 the " Swa-na aw-tsew,^^ or Drongo of the mountains. The lead- 

 coloured Redstart Ruticilla fuliginosa with its unique speckled 

 mate was occasionally seen sitting, either sex on a diff"erent rock 

 in the stream, or whistling and chasing one another along its 

 course. They shake the tail like the typical Redstarts, though 

 Dr. Jerdon says they do not (Birds of India, vol. ii. p. 143), but 

 have also a frequent habit of expanding it. 



On a tree on the side of a hill on the opposite side of the 

 stream I saw a Buzzard-like bird sitting. I walked up to what 

 I considered within range and fired a cartridge at it. It rose, 

 and to my astonishment I saw it was a Sjnlornis hoija, mihi 

 \a7itea, p. 304]. It took a circle and then flew over my head. 

 I fired my loose charge, but without efiect. The transparency 

 of the mountain air had led me to mistake the distance ; and 



