Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithologrj . 393 



general length, the same length of wing or of tail ; and their bills 

 also vary greatly in length, in breadth, and in thickness. Indeed, 

 if out of my series two extremes in form were selected, a modern 

 naturalist would have no hesitation in consigning them to separate 

 species. Hence the confusion that has arisen in this widely dis- 

 tributed species, and the number of synonyms it possesses. 



This bird is fond of perching on the thick foliage of ever- 

 green trees, balancing itself on its unstable perch by means of 

 its wings, and springing from one branch of leaves to another, 

 by means of its long Lark-like claws, after locusts and other soft 

 insects of that family. It suspends its large rush-framed cradle 

 between the long leaves of the sugar-cane and other reeds, 

 weaving the dried hanging leaves into the bottom of its nest, 

 and thus forming them into supports. In this rather rude struc- 

 ture it lays generally four white eggs, which vary much in shape 

 and size, but are usually obtuse at both ends, averaging 1'3 by 

 ] in., are rather thick-shelled and rarely glossy. On the notes 

 of the bird I have remarked in previous papers. Its flight is 

 straight, executed with short flaps and once and again a motion- 

 less sail through the air, the tail being held somewhat hori- 

 zontally, but generally rather on the decline. At the end of Sep- 

 tember 1861, a nest of four live young birds was brought to me, 

 and I kept them alive some time. Like other young Cuckoos, 

 their appetites were insatiable ; and when nearly choking, they 

 would still continue their cry for more food. This cry is a loud 

 and frequent imitation of the syllable " churr." As soon as you 

 left them to themselves, their notes would change to toc-toc-tou, 

 uttered in a subdued voice. This last note is often heard from 

 the adult bird. The little creatures, only partially clothed with 

 a rufous down, with the quills only just beginning to sprout, 

 looked complete oddities. Their mouths were of a dark red- 

 pink. A week after, the insides of their mouths had paled 

 to flesh-colour with the top of the tongue black, the beak was 

 flesh-coloured, washed with brownish, irides grey, legs leaden 

 violet ; the lark-heel was then very short. 



I extract from my journal a note on a full-fledged bird, shot 

 4th October 1861: — "Bill flesh-coloured, except the culmen, 

 which is broadly marked with blackish brown. Inside of mouth 



VOL. V. 2 E 



