272 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 



long tail, is not migratory, and would therefore seldom cross the 

 eighty miles of sea that divides Formosa from China. 



31. Lanius lucionensis, Linn. 



This species of the red-tailed group of Shrikes, of which L. 

 phmnicurus, L., is the type, is a summer visitor to Northern 

 China, I having myself met with it as far north as Talien Bay. 

 In spring and fall it abounds at Amoy for a few days, and then 

 disappears, on its vernal migration into the interior and North of 

 China; and in autumn across the sea to the Philippines, where it 

 hibernates. In its line of migration it touches S.W. Formosa, 

 and there we had its company for a few days in the early part of 

 September. Its chattering note is veiy different from that of 

 the preceding large species ; and it is of moi'e skulking habits, 

 seldom showing itself in any conspicuous place. It possesses a 

 melodious song of no mean capacity, but it is generally uttered 

 in a subdued tone. It feeds on large insects, especially Libellula, 

 but often er, I think, on small birds, more particularly of the 

 Phylloscopus group. The migration of P. sylvicultrix, nobis, 

 unfortunately for that bird, takes the same route as that of this 

 butcher, and consequently the latter always has his food at hand. 

 The arrival of the one bird is slightly in advance of the other. 

 My specimens from Formosa are identical with those procured 

 from Amoy, whence I have an immense series of skins, varying 

 in numerous instances, with strong tendencies in colouring to its 

 congeners of the same group ; but my remarks on them I must 

 reserve for another paper which I have in preparation on the 

 birds of China. 



32. CiNCLUS PALLASi, Temm. 



I believe the Formosan Dipper to be the same as the Japanese 

 bird, though I have not been able to compare skins. Our bird, 

 when alive, has the bill and legs a dark leaden colour, the latter 

 with a purplish tinge, the claws being whitish on the under 

 parts. In dry skins, of course, these parts change colour, the 

 bill becoming brown and the legs whitish ; hence the Prince of 

 Canino's mistake in giving as a character of this species, " rostro 

 pallide fusco; pedibus albican tibus." I suspect that the bill 



