South Formosa and its Birds. 811 



far off, just over the next hills. We were informed that 

 Mr. Hoist had remained ten days here, and had left for 

 Lakuli on the previous evening. This was another reason 

 for not going there, as we should have interfered Avith each 

 other's collecting. It was too hot to venture out of doors, 

 so I helped my servant to skin some birds shot on the way, 

 and whilst thus employed I j)urchased a young live "Hwanei^' 

 {Trochalopteron taivanum), which I afterwards brought back 

 with me to Amoy. I also engaged the services of a native 

 hunter, who promised to shoot for me that afternoon and on 

 the following Monday ; but he refused to shoot on Sunday, 

 for religious reasons, being a Christian. 



At 8 we resumed the march, and, following a steep path 

 which ascended the hills at the back of Baksa, toiled up to 

 their summit. There, much to my disgust, I discovered 

 Kamaua lying some three miles to the N.E., among paddy- 

 fields, far away from the surrounding hills. The mountains 

 on this side were nearly bare of trees, only sword-grass 

 jungle or short grass covering their nakedness. This not 

 very inviting prospect led to a conference as to the advisa- 

 bility of going on ; and we decided to return to Baksa and 

 make the best of the place till the time came fur the return 

 to Anping. On getting back to Baksa I found my shooting- 

 man with two fine specimens of the Large Scimitar-bill 

 of Formosa {Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis) and an Alcippe 

 morrisonia. Later in the evening another man brought me 

 two specimens of Alcippe brunnea, neatly Avrapped in paper, 

 showing that Mr. Hoist had trained the natives to collect for 

 him. Ants were a great pest here. 



We were up again at dawn next morning, Nov. 5th, and 

 started each in a different direction. Bain had as guide a 

 bright little boy, son of the caretaker, who was to take him 

 to some good partridge-ground ; and I went off with a stolid 

 son of Han, who took me up the hills behind the village, 

 along the rocky bed of a now dry torrent. It was rather 

 trying work and not at all interesting. The sword-grass 

 jungle grew thick on either bank of the torrent, meeting 

 over our heads, and in places we had to force our way 



