Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 209 



characters. The relation of Formosa ornithologically with Japan 

 is comparatively almost at zero. I only discovered one bird (the 

 Parus castaneiventris) that looks as if it had a common origin 

 with the P. varius of Japan ; for the Treron formosm is perhaps 

 as nearly allied to many others of that group as to the Vinago 

 sieboldii. Many Japanese birds do occur in Formosa, but only 

 as visitants, and in that capacity they also show themselves on 

 the coasts of China. I fully expected, from the geological relation 

 that Formosa is said to bear to the Philippines on the south and 

 to Japan on the north, that the fauna of that island would be 

 more or less connected with those countries; but in this my 

 investigations have decidedly proved me mistaken. The fauna 

 is, instead, of an almost entirely Himalayo-Chinese type. 



I have been blamed by some naturalists for allowing Mr. Gould 

 to reap the fruits of my labours, in having the privilege of de- 

 scribing most of my novelties. I must briefly state, in explana- 

 tion, that I returned to England elate with the fine new species I 

 had discovered, and was particularly anxious that they should 

 comprise one entire part of Mr. Gould's fine work on the Birds 

 of Asia, still in progress. On an interview with Mr. Gould, I 

 found that the only way to achieve this was to consent to his 

 describing the entire series to be figured, as he would include 

 none in the part but novelties which he should himself name 

 and describe. I somewhat reluctantly complied; but as he has 

 done me the honour to name the most important species after 

 me, I suppose I have no right to complain. 



I have much pleasure in taking this opportunity to record my 

 thanks to Messrs. G. R. Gray, Sclater, and Gould, as also to 

 Mr. Leadbeater, for the kind assistance they have afforded me 

 in lending me specimens and books required for the satisfactory 

 completion of this paper. 



1. Pandion haliaetus, L. Chinese, i/e-joew; (Fish-panther). 



Ospreys are unusually common about the harbour of Tamsuy, 

 and I have frequently seen no less than five at the same time 

 scattered over the sand-spit that divides the mouth of the river. 

 We disturbed one with a particularly large fish in his claws, with 

 which he had great difficulty in soaring into the air. They were 



