Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 291 



Paradoxornis, but in habits and general form it is a true Ixos. 

 In China I have never found it anywhere but on the plateaux, 

 2000 feet high, near Foochow. They were usually to be seen 

 perched on the tops of the twigs that were raised above the low 

 bushy copse, and when disturbed, would drop at once under 

 cover. Remains of Cicada and field-bugs were found in their 

 stomachs, together with berry-seeds. 



From the high ranges of Formosa my hunters brought me a 

 solitary specimen, which appears to tally exactly in colour with 

 the Chinese bird, but is smaller and has shorter wings and tail. 

 I have unfortunately only this one, and that rather injured, and 

 cannot therefore institute a satisfactory comparison between the 

 two races. 



49. Oriolus chinensis, L. 



The Formosan black-naped Oriole is identical with the bird 

 that visits China in summer, varying, like it, in size, in length, 

 and proportions of bill, thus proving that its southerly migra- 

 tions are to Cochin China rather than to the Philippines, where 

 the larger 0. acrorhrjnchus, Vigors, with no yellow wing-spot, 

 appears to be the only species. This wing-spot is, however, 

 scarcely a constant character ; for though I have not detected the 

 absence of it in any of my Formosan specimens, yet I have one 

 from Canton in which it is entirely missing. This Oriole arrives 

 in Formosa about the end of March in large numbers, and dis- 

 tributes itself over the flat country of the island, being rare in 

 the hilly regions near Tamsuy, but specially abundant in the 

 bamboo-groves of the south-west. It is by no means so common 

 in any part of China as in Formosa. It feeds on insects, but 

 more largely on berries and small wild figs. Its note is rather 

 harsh ; and the song of the male is short, loud, and far from 

 melodious. 



Measurements from a fresh specimen: — Length 10^^^ in.; 

 wing 5^0^ ; tail 3^ ; fourth quill rather longer than the third, 

 and longest in the wing. Tail-feathers somewhat graduated, 

 and angularly ended. Bill in the young bird pale dingy flesh- 

 colour washed with brown, and blackish chiefly on the upper 

 mandible. Inside of mouth light flesh-colour ; tongue cleft at 



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