34 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the OrnitJiology 



These birds were fond of perching on the tops of bushes, where 

 they would stand in very upright positions, often darting into the 

 air to seize an insect, or to take up some worm or beetle from 

 the ground. Their actions were all quick, and almost instanta- 

 neous. The tail was rarely moved, and then up and down slowly, 

 or occasionally thrown up with Robin-like motion. This simple 

 fact I think is sufficient to show that this species is not a typical 

 Redstart, though it assimilates to that genus in the red tail and 

 brown plumage of the female. The thick bill and grey plumage 

 of the male, however, would perhaps show its tendency to the 

 Saxicol(S. Its ordinary note is a subdued kind of rattling 

 noise ; but I have heard one, that stood still for several minutes 

 at a time, keep on emitting at intervals a loud sharp note ap- 

 proaching to the syllable "pew.'' 



33. Larvivora ? * 



I send a wretched specimen of this bird, the only one I could 

 procure. I have never met with it anywhere but at Macao, where 

 it is not uncommon in wooded spots, hopping about on the ground 

 amongst the undergrowth, and hence very difficult to shoot. 

 When I first heard the note, I could scarcely believe it to be 

 that of a bird, so like was it to the single chirp of the grasshopper; 

 but, creeping on my hands and knees into the thicket, I got a 

 view of the little fellow hopping about, and looking much like a 

 Robin. He would sometimes shake his tail up and down ; at 

 others he would throw it up, expanding and closing it. When 

 two of them came together, the sibilant note was repeated more 

 hurriedly and loudly, and then much resembled the chirrup of a 

 shrew mouse. 



Bill leaden brown, paler on the edges. Inside of mouth pale 

 flesh-yellow. Legs and claws pale flesh-colour. Iris deep brown. 



34. Parus minor, Temm. Cantonese, '' Pak-pay sheiv-low." 

 Common everywhere ; but the individuals appear to be some- 

 what larger than those at Amoy, and are in most cases quite grey 

 on the back, a few only having a greenish-yellow tinge. I can 



* This specimen appears to me to be a young bird of Erythacus 

 akaJiige (Temm.), Fauna Japon. j)!. 21 b ; and Mr. Gould is of the same 

 opinion. — P. L. S. 



