210 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 



very shy of approach ; but by a fortunate shot my constable 

 managed to put a bullet into one with an ordinary fowling-piece, 

 at a distance of something like 300 yards. This specimen^ which 

 was a male, measured 21 inches; wing 17j in. ; expanse 56 in. j 

 tail 8 in. ; iris clear bright yellow, with a black line round it ; 

 bill black ; basal edge of upper, basal half of lower, and cere 

 bluish grey ; inside of mouth light pinkish purple, with bluish 

 white tongue ; legs pale yellowish grey, tinged with blue ; claws 

 black ; ear-covert small, round, scarce ~ in. in diameter, the 

 bone depressed below, with an oval slit occupying the centre. 



This male specimen was somewhat larger than a male from 

 the coast of China ; but in both sexes I have found the Chinese 

 birds smaller in every case than European examples. 



2. BuTEG JAPONicus, Schleg. Faun. Japon. 

 Occasionally seen ; no specimens procured. 



3. MiLvus GOViNDA, Sykcs. 



Milvus melanotis, Schleg. Faun. Japon. 



Mr. Gurney considers our Kite to be the true M. govinda of 

 Sykes, which occurs in India and its archipelago, together with a 

 cognate form, the M. affinis, Gould ; and he is of opinion that the 

 two forms from these localities have been confounded together 

 by naturalists. As in China, so in Formosa, from the south to 

 the north this species abounds, seeking its food more on the 

 water and marshy grounds than on the land. It hovers for 

 hours over the shipping in hai'bour, watching for any offal or 

 refuse that may be thrown overboard. It is a very foul feeder, 

 is generally impregnated with a disgusting odour, and swarms 

 with lice, and is therefore not a very enticing bird to any one pos- 

 sessed of ordinary sensibilities. 



4. Falco peregrinus, L. 



A fine male of this species was brought to me at Tamsuy, on 

 the 20th March. It was quite fresh, only just having been 

 killed by a native some miles up the river. I had much difficulty 

 in inducing him to part with it, as he wanted the quill-feathers 

 for a fan, and was particularly anxious to make " chow-chow " 

 of its flesh. This specimen measured 16 inches ; wing 121 in. ; 

 tail 6 in. Apical third of bill blackish indigo, fading and blend- 



