404 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 



larger than the male in all their proportions. They have, too, 

 stronger legs ; and the spots on the breast of the male are in the 

 female converted into numerous black zigzag transverse bands. 

 Both sexes differ in proportions inter se, and also in markings ; 

 but all lately procured have the black and the patches of reddish 

 on the upper parts more pronounced than in the male I took as 

 my type for establishing the species. This last was shot much 

 later in the season. Specimens of T. taigoor, Sykes, that I 

 received from Dr. Squire are also very variable. If I am right 

 in considering the black-throated bird the female of the T, 

 rostrata (and I now feel almost convinced that I am), the species 

 will belong to the T. ocellata division. At Tamsuy (North- 

 western Formosa) I saw a pair of a Turnix that were shot, in 

 which the sexes did not differ. They looked to me at the time 

 very like T. maculosa, Temm., of China ; but, as they were high, 

 I unfortunately could not preserve them. 



A Bambusicola sonorivox procured in March at Takow is very 

 pale in colour. The chestnut and grey on its plumage remain, 

 the former in all its normal strength ; but the black colouring- 

 matter is wanting, even in the bill, probably owing to some 

 constitutional weakness in this individual bird. 



The Formosan Ring-necked Pheasant differs from the typical 

 Phasianus torquatus of China, not only in the albescence of its 

 lateral feathers, but also in its shorter tail and smaller size. I 

 have a few alive in my aviary here at Araoy, but the variety is 

 scarcely distinct enough to warrant my sending the birds home : 

 I am waiting for Pheasants from this neighbourhood to enable 

 me to institute a full comparison. The Hankow Pheasant has a 

 long and closely barred tail ; and I suspect on thorough investi- 

 gation several good races of the P. torquatus will be found to 

 exist in the large tract of country that constitutes the Chinese 

 empire. 



I have been so unsuccessful in getting live examples of 

 Euplocamus swinhoii home, that I have had an aviary built here, 

 and stocked it chiefly with birds of this species. I intend to 

 keep them for some time to get them into thorough condition, 

 and then try further shipments. Those I have, though several 



