Mr. R. Svvinhoe on the Ornithology of Hainan. 255 



arbour, when a Bulbul flew over. One of the friends asked 

 what bird it was, and another replied, "^ The white-polled 

 Grandsire," as /. sinensis is named by the Chinese literati. The 

 friends laughed; but the old gentleman did not like it*. Some 

 might accept this little story as evidence that in those days the 

 true " AVhite-bonnet ^' prevailed in Hainan. But, judging from 

 their works on natural history, I do not think the Chinese 

 students would be careful enough to notice the small but im- 

 portant difference that distinguishes the Hainan from the Chi- 

 nese bird. They would bring their traditions about the " White- 

 poll" from China, and apply them to the representative bird 

 they found in Hainan. At all events, the present natives of 

 Hainan still call the black-capped race by the old term "White- 

 poll." 



76. Phyllornis lazulina, sp. n. "^ 



This is so close to P. hardwickii (Jard. & Selby), of the South- 

 eastern Himalayas (Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 100), that I almost hesi- 

 tate in assigning it specific rank. It mainly differs from its 

 Indian ally in having the head greyish-green and in the blue 

 of its shoulder being of another hue. 



Male. Upper parts fine grass-green, washed with orange- 

 yellow on the hind-neck. Wings and tail deep violet-purple ; 

 the former with a shoulder-bar of rich cobalt blue, and with 

 the visible portions of the tertials, secondaries, and their co- 

 verts green like the back, the primaries being tipped with a 

 fainter hue of the same. Tail with the two middle feathers in- 

 wardly edged for the greater part of their length with fine deep 

 green ; outwardly nearer their bases. Lore, space under the eye„ 

 throat, and breast black, washed with deep purple ; moustache- 



* The whole stoiyisthus given in the ' Kimiff-sJian-Heeti G&zetteei'^: — 

 " Choo Koidh was in the reception-hall of Lord Woo, when this' bird 

 flew past. Lord Woo asked what bird it was. Choo replied, ' The 

 White-polled Grandsire.' Chang Chao, an old gentleman also present, 

 suspecting that Clwo was joking at his expense, said, 'I have never 

 heard of a bird called White-polled Grandsire. Perhaps 3^011 know 

 another called White-polled Grandmother!' Choo at once rejoined, 

 ' No ! but 3'ou must know the Parrot's Mamma [Cockatoo]. Would 

 you like to have also a Pan-ot's Papa P ' Poor Chcm^i was peiplexed, 

 and the rest of the company amused." 



T 2 



