Mr. R. Svvinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 427 



167. Gallinula phcenicura. 



Rallus phcenicurus, Pennant. 



G . javanica, H o r sf . 



These birds were not uncommon about Taiwanfoo in summer, 

 and at Tamsuy I procured several examples in March; but I cannot 

 be sure as to their spending the winter in Formosa. In South 

 China they are, I believe, birds of passage. Their eggs vary in 

 shade of cream ground-colour, and are spotted and blotched, in 

 some cases only freckled, with cinnamon-red and light purplish 

 grey. Length 1*65 in.; breadth 1"15. 



168. Gallinula chloropus, L. 

 G. parvifrons, Blyth. 



The European Water-hen is found on most inland waters in 

 Formosa; but I did not obtain the Coot. I procured a male 

 and female off a large pool near Apes' Hill. Legs yellowish 

 green ; irides brown. 



169. Rallus striatus, L. 

 R. gularis, Horsf. 



A live female of this Rail was brought to me on the 27th July, 

 at Taiwanfoo, with seven eggs ; she had been caught on the 

 nest. The eggs are of a pinkish cream-colour, varying in shade, 

 sprinkled with purplish grey, and blotched with Indian or cin- 

 namon-red, especially at the larger end. They are, for the most 

 part, rounder than the eggs of Gallinules. Length 1*3 in.; 

 breadth 1, 



$ . " Bill bright madder-pink on basal two-thirds, light violet- 

 grey on apical third; culmen dark. Iris yellowish chestnut. Inside 

 of mouth pale pink. Ear small, roundish, and exposed. Legs 

 dusky leaden grey, tinged with greenish and brown." 



The male is a very little, if at all, smaller than the female, but 

 has brighter bill and legs ; in other respects they are similar. 

 The hind necks of our Formosan birds, as well as of specimens 

 from Siam, are bright chestnut. This colour scarcely shows at 

 all in birds that I have seen from India ; but specimens may 

 vary in this respect, and I have seen no large series. Mr. Blyth 

 considers the Malayan and Indian birds to be the same. 



