Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 295 



presence of the diminutive first primary, which in the other 

 species is said to be entirely wanting. The Formosan bird is 

 identical with that found throughout Southern China, from 

 Canton to Foochow. In winter it roams about in small parties, 

 like the Tits, from tree to tree, searching every twig for Aphides 

 and other small insects. When engaged in the pursuit of its 

 food, it hangs in all manner of attitudes, uttering the while a 

 peculiar call-note. In spring it utters a short, sweet song. It is 

 a bird very easily tamed in confinement, even when kept several 

 together; and in most towns in South China it may be seen 

 as a cage-bird. At feeding-time they are particularly lively; 

 but when satiated, settle on their perch, sidling up to their 

 companions, and after caressing one another for a short time, 

 all ruffle their feathers and dip their heads under their wings. 

 The siesta they take is not long. They all wake up suddenly 

 and feed again, the males often putting forward the head and 

 singing their soft melodious notes. This habit of taking mid- 

 day siestas I have also observed in the Parus caudatus in con- 

 finement. The Zosterops is very fond of bathing ; and for food, 

 besides insects, is partial to fruit, showing an especial fondness 

 for plantains or bananas, on which it may be almost entirely 

 sustained. For particulars on its nesting, I must refer my 

 readers to my Canton List (see Ibis, ]861, p. 35). 



53. Parus castaneiventris, Gould, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 380. 



A diminutive representative of the curiously coloured P. varius 

 of Japan (Fauna Japonica, p. 71, pi. 35), but quite distinguish- 

 able enough to be noted as a local specific form of the same type. 

 It appears on the island of Formosa to be entirely restricted to 

 the interior mountain-chain, where it is said to be by no means 

 common. I have never found it on the cultivated hills, nor yet 

 in the plantations on the plains ; and, strange to say, no species 

 of Parus whatever occurs to take its place there. Never having 

 met the bird alive, I have no note of its habits. 



Bill black. Legs and claws leaden grey. Length 3^ in.; 

 wings "3^ in.; tail 1| in., of twelve feathers, slightly graduated; 

 tarsi I in. ; fourth quill rather the longest in the wing. Bill 

 and legs strong, the former resembling that of P. ater, L. Head 

 and hind-neck black ; a large spot of white on the latter, ex- 



