Dr. P. L. Sclater on the known Species o/Dacnis. 311 



obscured. In summer a rufous tinge diffuses itself over the 

 entire bird, especially on the lores, eyebrows, and under parts, 

 leaving, however, the centre of the belly nearly white. 



They leave us for the north in spring, few, if any, remaining 

 to breed. 



80. Anthus cervinus. Pall. 



A. pratensis jajjunicus, ' Fauna Japonica^ ? 



Visits Formosa in large numbers during winter, accomplishes 

 its vernal moult, and leaves us in April and beginning of May. 

 This transformation of the winter into the summer plumage is 

 not made by a changing of colour in the feathers, but by an 

 entire moult even to the quills of the wings and tail. When the 

 summer plumage is completed, no traces are left of the black 

 spots and streaks on the throat and breast, which become a deep 

 clear vinaceous. A few streaks, however, usually remain on the 

 flanks. 



81. Anthus richardi, Vieill. 



A very rare straggler to Formosa, though a common winter 

 bird in South China. 



[To be continued.] 



XXVI. — Synopsis of the known Species of Dacnis. 

 By P. L. Sclater. 



(Plate VII.) 



Mr. Lawrence having kindly forwarded to me for inspection 

 specimens of both sexes of a new Dacnis, which he has lately 

 described in the ' Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of 

 New York,' as mentioned antea (p. 110), I take the opportunity 

 of giving a figure of this beautiful bird, and a short synopsis of 

 the species of the genus, so far as I have any knowledge of 

 them. My former papers relating to the same subject will 

 be found in 'Contributions to Ornithology,' 1851, p. 106, 

 and in the * Proceedings of the Zoological Society ' for 1854? 

 (p. 253). 



