Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 289 



These birds are longer-winged and smarter in flight than the 

 Pycnonotidce, but as regards general habits ai'e closer in their 

 affinities to them than to any other group. 



47. IXOS SINENSIS. 



Muscicapa sinensis, Gmel. 



Turdus occipitalis et palmarum, Temm. 



Pay-tow-kok of Amoy and Formosan Chinese. 



This is the commonest of the Pycnonotida in Southern China ; 

 it is said to be also very common in the Philippines, and in 

 Formosa is our only species, being found in great abundance 

 throughout all the low country. My specimens vary chiefly in 

 the proportions of white and black on the head. I have one 

 peculiar variety from Amoy. The Formosan form is essentially 

 identical with the Chinese bird, having no special peculiarities 

 of its own. It is, however, a bird abundant on the coasts of 

 both the island and the main, and possesses no mean powers of 

 flight; and though usually resident in localities where found, 

 there could be no difficulty in supposing it occasionally to trans- 

 port itself across the channel. 



Bill and legs black. Iris rich brown. Crown, moustache, and 

 nuchal band black. Auriculars brown, ending in a large white 

 spot. Upper parts brownish grey, each feather being margined 

 laterally with yellowish olive-green. Quills and tail hair-brown, 

 margined on outer webs with greenish yellow. Throat white ; 

 abroad pectoral band of light greyish brown. Undei'-parts pure 

 white in most specimens, with only a few yellow streaks ; in 

 others dingy yellowish white, most of the feathers margined 

 exteriorly with sulphur-yellow. Under-wing whitish, the 4th 

 and 5th quills equal and longest. Tail-feathers 12, somewhat 

 graduated, with white under-shafts. 



The young, before the autumnal moult, have the entire upper 

 parts and pectoral band brownish grey, deeper and somewhat 

 mottled on the head. The back has a tinge of yellowish green, 

 and the quills and tail are margined with the same. The bill 

 and legs are brown ; the iris greyish ; the throat and under- 

 parts pure white. 



These birds subsist partly on insects, and partly on berries 



VOL. V. X 



