358 Mr. J. D. D. La Touclie on the 



and irregular exterior, about 2^', or a little over, in depth, 

 with an inner diameter of about 3''*25, and an outer 

 diameter of about 7''. The seven nests collected have all a 

 lining of pine-needles or fine roots. 



8. PoMATORHiNUs Musicus Swinh. 



This Scimitar Babbler is very abundant about the lower 

 hills and lowlands in bamboo-grooves and jungle, and is 

 often seen quite close to the sea-shore. 



I was unable to obtain any eggs. 



9. Alcippe morrisonia Swinh. 



Very abundant in Northern Formosa, but never leaving the 

 hills, where it is often the commonest bird. I have seen 

 very large flocks of this bird travelling through the cover on 

 the hills, sometimes accompanied by other small birds. 



10. Alcippe brunnea Gould. 



Observed on the savage border near Tokoham. 



11. Stachyridopsis ruficeps (Blyth). 



This interesting little bird is very common in Northern 

 Formosa, frequenting jungle, brushwood, and thick cover in 

 woods. There, as on the continent, it is fond of the company 

 of the Alcippe and other small birds. The " company " call- 

 note is a dissyllabic, murmuring, and semi-querulous note, 

 which may be written '' Ti-churr " or " Che-djee.'^ When 

 going through cover alone, the call is a loud whistle '' Tiitiitii- 

 tiitii.''^ The bird appears then to be very shy and is not 

 easily approached. The female of a pair obtained in June 

 had the ovaries greatly developed, and was within a few days 

 of laying. Two broods are probably reared. 



A little grandson of my old collector at Tamsui discovered 

 a nest on the 23rd June, 1895, while following me in one 

 of my rambles on the North Hill. This nest was placed 

 high in a bush in a wooded ravine. It is made altogether of 

 bamboo-leaves, and is like a short and rather narrow inverted 

 cone. 



There were four young birds in the nest, nearly fledged, 

 the tail-feathers just emerging from the quills. I brought 



