Mr. R. Swinhoe on Furmosan Ornithology. 383 



confine it in cages. It learns to speak, and imitates well the 

 human voice. It builds in the holes of trees or walls, but more 

 frequently constructs a large-domed Magpie-like nest on the tops 

 of high lir trees. Its eggs are blue, and vary from three to 

 seven in number. It bears the general name of Pako, or " Eight 

 Brethren^^ (it being usually seen in parties of that number) ; but 

 the Amoy provincial name is Ka-ling. It abounds in Formosa 

 all throughout the year. 



A young bird procured 18th July 1861, at Taiwanfoo, had 

 the bill pale yellowish horn-colour. Roof of mouth, inside of 

 bill, and tip of tongue yellow; the rest flesh-colour, with a bluish- 

 black tinge. Iris light greenish yellow. Legs light brownish 

 yellow on the under parts, sole, and joints of scales ; the rest 

 purplish brown, darker on the claws. The nose-crest scarcely 

 perceptible. The feathers of the head and under parts edged 

 with brown, and the rest of the plumage more or less tinged 

 with the same. Outer tail-feathers and under tail-coverts tipped, 

 not with white, but with dusky yellowish brown. 



96. CoRvus SINENSIS, Gould. 



In the south-west plains of Formosa I observed no Crow; but 

 in the interior hill-ranges, near Tamsuy, I noticed parties of a 

 black species, which, from its peculiar voice and habits, I took to 

 be the species that is found throughout China. Unfortunately 

 I did not procure a specimen, owing chiefly to the great ob- 

 jections the natives had to shoot them. The Chinese colonists 

 there look upon this bird with a kind of superstitious reverence ; 

 " iov," say they, " whenever the savages sally out and kill any 

 of our number, this Crow always sets up a sympathetic laou-wa 

 (or wailing cry)." I asked them if the Crow was not always 

 setting up this cry, whether any mishap had happened to them 

 or not. In reply to this, they shrugged their shoulders and 

 laughed, as they always do when the follies of their super- 

 stitions are pointed out to them, but they do not believe in them 

 the less for that. 



97. Pica media, Blyth. 

 P. sericen, Gould. 



Observed in great abundance in the large level tracts near 



