284 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formusan Ornithology. 



44. PoMATORHiNUS Musicus, Swinhoe, Journ. As. Soc. of 

 Shanghai, vol. ii. p. 228. (Plate VI.) 



In 1857, in my voyage round Formosa in H. M. S. ' Inflexible,' 

 I first came across this species, and described it under the above 

 name at a meeting of the North China Branch of the Asiatic 

 Society at Shanghai. It is a very abundant species throughout 

 all the flat country and lower hills of Formosa. In every grove 

 and plantation you are sure to find some of this species in small 

 parties or in pairs, and frequently in company with the common 

 Garrulax taivanus. They have also much the habits of that 

 group, collecting in a bush and chattering loudly together, or 

 hopping from bough to bough, with rounded back and rounded, 

 partially expanded tail. They have also the same aff"ectionate 

 manners towards one another, sidling together on a bough, and 

 rubbing and pecking one another coaxingly. Like G. taivanus, 

 they breed twice, and sometimes thrice, during the summer, 

 building in the same sort of places and of similar materials, but 

 making larger nests of a rounded form. Their eggs are of a 

 somewhat glossy white, and are generally three in number ; they 

 measure -9 by -62. Their food consists of Coleopterous and other 

 insects ; but they have a great partiality for the large Cicada and 

 their larvse, thus rendering a great service by thinning the num- 

 bers of these noisy pests. I have never found remains of birds 

 in their stomach ; and indeed, judging from their bills, I do not 

 well see how they could destroy birds. Like others of the Gar^ 

 rulax group, if their food is too large, they hold it down under 

 their claws while they peck it to pieces with their bill. Some 

 species of Garrulax, I am told, attach their prey to thorns, like 

 the Laniida, but this I have never observed. This bird occa- 

 sionally throws its tail from side to side, but never at right angles 

 like some of the smaller Australian Pomatorhini and the little 

 P. stridulus of Foochow. 



There is not much music in its ordinary call-note ; but when 

 two or three are met together, and vie with one another in their 

 strains, the efiect is pleasing, though their melody is not to be 

 compared to that of the Hwa-mei. When at rest in the middle 

 of the day, hidden in some sombre hill-side wood, they keep on 

 uttering at intervals a series of very liquid notes in regular 



