300 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 



In China the species abounds in all suitable localities from 

 Canton to Foochow. All my specimens, both from China and 

 Formosa, have a pair of thick black bristles, curved backwards, 

 springing from the base of the bill, on the edge of the rictus j 

 and the tail contains only ten rectrices. 



A nest, containing four young Drymoeca, was brought to me 

 in August. The sides of the nest were too deep for the young 

 to void their excrement over; it is always voided in compact 

 mass and inside the nest, and must, I think, be carried away by 

 the parent birds. The feathers of the back and breast first 

 opened, those of the wing next, the head-feathers somewhat 

 later, and the rectrices last of all. The bill of the youngsters 

 was ochreous yellow ; the angle and inside of mouth light yellow, 

 except a little blackish near the base of the tongue. Iris blackish 

 brown ; skin round the eye brownish yellow. Bare skin of the 

 face light yellowish grey; the rest of the naked parts a raw 

 flesh-colour. Legs and toes the same, somewhat fulvous on the 

 claws and tibial joints. 



63. Dkymceca flavirostris, n. sp. 



In Taiwanfoo, S.W. Formosa, I procured one example of 

 another of this genus, similar to the preceding species, but 

 differing strikingly in its short yellow bill. It has, however, 

 the two strong black bristles at its base. Its tarsi are much 

 longer, with longer toes and larger and stronger hind claw. 

 The throat, loral space, and face are also nearly white, instead 

 of straw-colour. The upper parts are a different shade of olive- 

 brown, tinged with rufous, and the wing-feathers are broadly 

 edged with rufous brown. Wing 1^ in., rather differently 

 formed, with the fifth quill somewhat longer than the fourth 

 and sixth. Its tail is much shorter, but I do not think this 

 appendage is fully developed in my single specimen. 



In North Formosa I did not meet this species again, and think 

 therefore that it is restricted to the flat country of the south, 

 where it may be abundant ; but its resemblance to the foregoing, 

 I suppose, was the reason that I did not detect it in its wild state. 

 Drymcecce were common enough about Taiwanfoo ; but thinking 

 them identical with the Chinese species, I did not care to procure 

 many specimens until it was too late. 



