2.22 Mr. F. W. Styan on a 



Gadow (Cat. Birds B. M. viii. p. 348) gives S. sinensis as a 

 synonym of S. caesia, perhaps without having examined 

 Chinese examples. 



The four specimens — two males and two females — I have 

 compared with a long series of S. casta, and find them much 

 smaller in all their measurements^ especially in the much 

 shorter and weaker bill, which equals that of S. himalayana. 

 They have less white on the throat than S. coesia and are more 

 rufous on the underparts, especially the sides of the neck. 



51. Leiothrix luteus (Scop.). 

 One bought alive. 



52. Alcippe brunnea, Gould. 



53. Alcippe morrisonia, Swinhoe. 



Ten specimens, dated January, May, November, and 

 December. This species appears to have been previously 

 found only in Formosa, where Swinhoe met with and 

 described it. 



" Common at Peling, in country just below Shinkovv, and 

 in the valley of the Yung Fu river." — J. D. T. 



54. Stachyridopsis ruficeps (Blyth). 

 Stachyris precognitus, Swinli. 



Shinkow and the valley of the Yung Fu river. 



55. MOTACILLA LUGENS, Pall. 



An adult male in full breeding-plumage, dated 27th March. 



56. MoTAciLLA LEUCopsis, Gould. 



An interestiug series of twenty skins in various stages. 

 The colour of the back in the winter plumage of adult birds 

 seems to be very uncertain. Of nine adults killed in autumn 

 and winter, one September and two October birds have little 

 or no black on the back, two other October and one Decem- 

 ber birds have partially black backs, another December bird 

 has a pure black back, and two February ones are no blacker 

 than the darker October birds. From this it would seem 

 that after the breeding-season the black back is lost, and re- 

 assumed at an uncertain period during the winter or following 

 spring. This does not agree with the ojiinion expressed by 



