Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Amoy (China). 49 



22. Halcyon pileata (Bodd.). {A. atricapilla, Gmel.) 

 Rare. The feathers of this are used for the same purpose as 



those of the foregoing, and give a deeper tone to the ornaments. 

 I have not had the opportunity of comparing this with skins 

 from other parts, so I am not quite sure of the species. 



23. Alcedo bengalensis, Gmel. 

 A very common resident. 



24. Ceryle rudis (Linn.). 



Very common on the river, where it is to be found at all 

 seasons; poises on the wing at a height above the water, and 

 drops suddenly down to catch its prey. I have however seen it 

 strike obliquely when Hying close to the surface of the water. 



25. Upupa epops, Linn. 



Resides all the year, but not common ; nestles in the holes of 

 walls, and of exposed coffins, and hence called by the natives the 

 " Coffin-hird:' 



26. Orthotomus phyllorrapheus, n. sp. 



This species is probably new, as it does not correspond to any 

 described by F. Moore in his Monograph of the genus, read 

 before the Zoological Society in February 1854. I extract from 

 my journal the description of a male shot on the 22nd of February. 

 Length 4*5 inches, wing 1-9, tail 2 ; bill along culmen -5, to gape 

 •7; tarsus "8. Bill pale flesh-colom-, dark hair-brown along the 

 culmen. Legs and toes pale yellowish brown. Iris buff; a narrow 

 circle round the eye pale yellow. Forehead ferruginous, gra- 

 dually changing to olive-brown on the head. Back bright olive- 

 green. Wings and tail hair- brown, the coverts margined with 

 olive-green, the quills with yellowish olive-brown. Round the 

 eye and all the under parts, including the shoulder-edge, ochreous 

 white, darker on the flanks, and buff on the tibiae. The two 

 central tail-feathers of the male gradually lengthen until May, 

 when they are about an inch and a half or so longer than the 

 others, which are all somewhat graduated. I observe that those 

 lengthened feathers soon become worn, and usually drop after 

 the first nesting, to be replaced by others only slightly longer 

 than the rest. 



VOL. II. E 



