252 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 



In the spring, at Tamsuy, N.W. Formosa, I witnessed the 

 arrival of large numbers of Caprimulyida, which I took for this 

 species. Like most of the Goatsucker group, they skulked about 

 the roots of the bushes on the hill-sides during the day, and then 

 required almost to be trodden upon before they would spring. 

 When they rose, they dashed away with uncertain flight for a 

 short distance and then fell, sometimes among bushes, but often 

 on the bare ground, flapping and running awkwardly under the 

 nearest cover of a stone or tuft of grass. On their first arrival, 

 while the weather was still fresh^ they frequented the banks 

 of a hot sulphur-spring, where the steaming exhalations 

 heightened the temperature and imparted to the atmosphere a 

 disagreeable sulphurous odour. The birds, though in good con- 

 dition, seemed to shrink from the cold, and sought the friendly 

 warmth of the ravine, regardless of the deleterious smell, thus 

 proving that they had sought these latitudes from a warmer 

 clnnate. 



I subjoin the description of another female, shot 10th October, 

 1861, at Taiwanfoo, which differed somewhat from the last in 

 being paler and less distinctly spotted. 



Length 9/q in. ; wing 7^q ; tail 4^^, of ten feathers. Bill 

 brownish flesh-coloured, largely tipped with blackish brown. In- 

 side of mouth flesh-colour. Rim round the eye broad and smooth, 

 clear ochre. Ear-conch lai'ge and triangular, with the vertex 

 uppermost, the aperture exposed through abroad perpendicular 

 slit. Tarsi naked ; legs dark madder-brown, with whitish edges 

 to scutes and whitish soles to feet ; claws blackened, pecten 

 whitish. Scapulars broadly edged with creamy burnt sienna. 

 Wings closing to within ^o in- of end of tail. 



Heart ^ by y^, in. Yellow fat covering the belly. Liver very 

 small, right lobe ^, left ^. ffisophagus thick and fleshy, ^ in. 

 wide ; proventriculus ^q by -^q. Stomach 1 in. by ^q, j''^ deep, of 

 an irregular oval, with tendons little muscular; epithelium thick 

 and leathery, ochreous, furrowed deeply in difl'erent directions, and 

 containing remains of Coleoptera (chiefly Cctonice). Caeca J in. 

 from anus, right I^^q, left fj-)i '^oth bulging into black sacs, j^ at 

 broadest, and tapering at the ends. Intestine 7^0 in. long, varying 

 from ,i^ to f^. Ovary with numerous small eggs. 



