426 Mr. J. D. de la Touche on the 



never saw any at Foochow during the hot season. My boy 

 shot some specimens in winter on the hills west of Swatow. 



-f-104. Dictum CRUENTATUM (Linn.). [131.] 



Obtained in winter at Lun-tsung, west o£ Swatow, and on 

 the hills beyond Chao-chow-fu. 

 -|-105. J^^THOPYGA LAToucHii, Slater, Ibis, 1891, p. 43, pi. i. 



Chiong-po, the country whence my boy brought me speci- 

 mens of this new species in January 1888, is several days' 

 journey west of Swatow, and, I believe, about two days' 

 journey (50 miles ?) from Kiangsi. Six examples were pro- 

 cured, one of which I have unfortunately lost, and others 

 were seen by the collector. 

 i 106. ZosTEROPs SIMPLEX, Swiuh. [134.] 



Foochow. Styan, Ibis, 1882, p. 227. 



I collected at Foochow in January 1887 a good series of 

 the dark birds described by Mr. Styan, all of which were in 

 fresh plumage. The dark grey of the underparts was deeper 

 in some specimens than in others. There were flocks wholly 

 composed of these dark birds. I shot in the hills, about the 

 same time, specimens which were in normal plumage. 



Swinhoe's White-eye is also common at Swatow. 

 -f- 107. Padda oryzivora (Linn.). [496.] 



Seen at Swatow on 19th September, and shot there in De- 

 cember and January. 



-h 108. Munia topela, Swinh. [494.] 



Common and resident at Foochow and Swatow. 

 This and the following species are very common cage-birds 

 at Foochow. Fortune-tellers train them to tell natives their 

 fortunes by picking up slips of paper on which lucky or un- 

 lucky sentences are written — these being spread out on a table, 

 and the bird let out of its tiny prison for the purpose. These 

 unfortunate little " fortune-telling birds,'' as the natives call 

 them, are carried about in diminutive cages fastened in front 

 of their owner's belt, the man rattling, as he goes along the 

 streets, two pieces of wood to give notice of his approach. 



I have seen on the continent of Europe Canaries and other 

 birds put to the same use. 



