Birds from. West China. . 299 



The return journey was commenced in February by way 

 of the Min river and Yangtse to Chungking. Thence a 

 short trip was taken into Kweichow province, where Suiyang, 

 about 50 miles from the northern border, was selected as a 

 collecting-centre. 



The avifauna of this district resembles very closely that of 

 Anhwei, Chekiaug, and Fohkien, a certain sprinkling of more 

 western species being thrown in. Among the interesting 

 birds met with were : — 



TuRDUs AURiTus Vcrr. 



A single example killed in March ; described as a fine 

 songster. 



RUTICILLA. FRONTALIS (Vig.). 

 SUTHORA ALPHONSIANA Vcrr. 



Apparently common. 



Staphidia torqueola Swiuhoe. 



ScHCENiPARUs VARiEGATUs Styan. (Plate IV. fig. 2.) 

 S. variegatus sp. nov., Styan, Bull. B. O. C. 1899, no. lix. 

 p. xxvi. 



Eight specimens, shot in March and April. This species 

 closely resembles S. dubius,h'om which it dift'ers in its much 

 less rufous npper parts, less vivid rufous crown, more 

 olivaceous Hanks and sides of breast, and blacker bill. It is 

 intermediate between S. dubius and S. {Alcippe) brimneus 

 (which lacks the white eyebrow), and is very close to 

 S. (Alcippe) genestieri Oustalet (Bull. Mus. Paris, 1897, 

 p. 210) , with which, indeed, it may prove to be identical. The 

 latter, however, when compared with a single skin of the 

 present species, appeared to be more rufous and nearer 

 to S. dubius. Provided that the present species is valid, we 

 have four species known to occur in China, viz. S. genestieri, 

 S. variegatus, S. brunneus, and S. olivaceuy. 



Cryptolopha RicKETTi Slater. 



Known hitherto only from Fohkien ; a su^gle one shot. 



MoTACiLLA HODGSON I Gray. 



x2 



