Mr. R. Swinhoe on Birds from Hakodadi. 155 



11. Scaly-headed Grass- Wren. Tribura squameicej)s^ 

 Swinh. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 292. 



A female from Hakodadi shot in May, answering to my 

 type specimen in colour and form. It has a nearly complete 

 tail, which is only an inch long, the rectrices narrow and 

 somewhat pointed, of a reddish olive-brown, the same colour 

 as the wings; outer rectrix "15 shorter than centrals; under 

 tail-coverts "3 shorter than central rectrices. The short tail 

 shows this species to be an abnormal Reed- Wren ; but as I 

 have placed it in the genus Tribwra, I shall leave it there until 

 I find one better adapted. I am by no means confident as 

 to its position. I described it originally from a tailless spe- 

 cimen procured by Captain Blakiston at Canton; I got it 

 again later in Formosa (Ibis, 1866, p. 397), but also imperfect 

 about the tail. The Hakodadi bird is the third specimen that I 

 have seen ; and would prove, I should think, that it is a migra- 

 tory species, resorting to the north in summer. I took the 

 following note on the Japanese bird : — " Bill "4, to gape "53 ; 

 tarse '7 . Bill blackish brown, greenish yellow at gape and 

 on the tomia at base. Legs, claws, and nails very pale.^^ 



12. Indian Stonechat. Pratincola indica, Blyth. 



A pair, both shot in April, agreeing with Chinese speci- 

 mens. The male is very black above, and has the rich breast- 

 band confined to the breast. 



13. CoLE-TiT. Parus ater, L. 



One shot in March and another in October. These appear 

 to be the true European bird, though one has some of the 

 occipital feathers a little lengthened, perhaps not more than 

 in specimens I have seen from Sweden. The form found near 

 Peking is recognizable by its lengthened occipital feathers 

 forming a decided crest over the white nape-spot. Pere 

 David has named it Parus 2)ekinensis (Ibis, 1870, p. 155). 



14. Japanese Mouse-bird. Parus varius, T. & S. 



A male, shot in April. The Japanese delight in keeping 

 this as a cage-bird, two or three together ; each cage supplied 

 with a small box with a hole in front for entrance. The birds 

 sleep in the box during the night, and frequently run in and 



