Mr. R. Swiuhoe on Foiinosan Ornithology. 381 



prolonged and pointed. Bill deep bluish grey, approaching to 

 black. Legs and toes light purplish lead-colour, with pale 

 brownish soles; claws ilesh-brown, with light edges. Iris choco- 

 late-brown. Length 4^^^ in. ; w^ing 2, jijy ; tail 1 j*^^, of 12 feathers, 

 the outer one shortest and not so pointed as the rest, the next 

 four graduated slightly, the two central pointed, and by about 

 j^g in. the longest. 



The young have brown bills. Rictus white ; inside of mouth 

 yellowish ilesh-colour. Their legs are flesh-coloured. Their tail- 

 feathers are of the same length and form as those of adults. 

 Their upper parts are of a uniform light yellowish brown. The 

 under parts a much lighter tint of the same colour, the centre of 

 the belly being white. Quills dark hair-brown. Skin round the 

 eye greyish brown ; iris blackish brown. In the early spring the 

 horse-shoe feathers of the under parts begin to show themselves, 

 but it is seldom until the second year that the moult is complete. 



Mr. Blyth considers this species distinct; and in my large 

 series of skins I find constant uniformity in the peculiarities 

 that distinguish it from its allies. In China it is abundant from 

 Canton to Shanghai, and in Formosa all throughout the plains. 

 It is more a bird of the open country than the last, roaming about 

 in autumn and winter in large flocks, like Sparrows and Linnets. 

 It also rarely goes into the retirement of woods and groves for 

 nesting-purposes, preferring isolated trees, bushes, or palms, in 

 the exposed open fields. In one of these its nest is stowed 

 away — a large woven mass of coarse dried grass, generally lined 

 inside with finer materials. It is of a globular form, with a hole 

 on one side, resembling the nest of some murine animal. The 

 eggs number 7, 5, or 3, but more frequently 3. They are white, 

 oblong, larger than those of the last species, and not so narrow. 

 It has usually three nests in the season. The notes of this bird 

 are louder aud somewhat difi"erent from those of the preceding 

 species. It is also a heavier and more Sparrow-like bird. It is 

 often kept in confinement. When singing, the male draws him- 

 self up to his full height and stretches out his head, the beak is 

 opened, and the throat shaken ; but only a low murmuring 

 sound is emitted, which is scarcely audible to a person standing 

 close to the bird : it is the most absurd attcmjit at singing 



