176 Zoological Society : — 



and Toad had the same peculiar spot on the sides of the iris, and that 

 it was common to the Batrachia. This is a mistake ; the European 

 and North American species of Bufo, Rana, Hyla, and Hylodes have 

 an oblong-transverse pupil, with an oblong ring-like iris, the upper 

 portion of which is often differently or more brightly coloured than 

 the lower ; but this form of pupil is not universal in the tailless 

 Batrachia ; for, according to Dr. Holbrook, the genus Scaphiopus 

 has a small circular pupil, and the iris divided into four equal parts 

 by black radiating lines. According to the figures of the same 

 author, who had all the species figured from life, the North Ame- 

 rican Salamanders and Tritons, the Amphiuma, Menopoma, Siren, 

 and Menobranchus, all have small circular pupils, with an annular 

 iris. The Triton eristatus of England, T. marmoratus of Spain, and 

 T. alpestris of Germany, have a circular ring-like iris ; and the only 

 Batrachians which appear to have the spot on each side of the iris, 

 forming a band across the eyes, are the English Lophinus punctatus 

 and L. palmatus, the band on the eyes looking in these like a conti- 

 nuation of the dark streak on the side of the head. I may add that 

 the best character for the distinction of these two species, which are 

 often found in the same pond, is, that in L. punctatus the crest of 

 the male is scalloped on the edge, and high in front ; while in L. 

 palmatus it is low in front, and higher behind, and has a smooth 

 straight upper edge. The tail of the latter is also always truncated, 

 and usually appendaged at the tip. 



On the Species of Zosterops inhabiting China and Japan, 

 WITH the Description of a New Species. By Robert 



SwINHOE, F.Z.S., ETC. 



The genus Zosterops is represented in China by two species, one 

 inhabiting South China and the island of Formosa, the other North 

 China, from Shanghai northwards into Amoorland. The species pecu- 

 liar to Japan has been described by MM. Temminck and Schlegel in 

 the ' Fauna Japonica,' and is allied to both the Chinese species, but 

 quite distinct from either. I proceed to characterize briefly the two 

 Chinese species. 



Zosterops simplex, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1863, p. 294. 



Similis Ti. palpebrosae ex India, sed major ; supra magis viridis ; 

 alis caudaque saturatioribus. 



This species ranges in China from Canton to Foochow, and perhaps 

 a little higher ; but not to Shanghai, where it is replaced by the fol- 

 lowing. In Formosa it is also an abundant resident. On its nesting 

 and habits I have already written much in the ' Ibis,' and therefore 

 will not here repeat my remarks. It has its nearest ally in Z. pal- 

 pebrosa of India, being, like it, light grey on the under parts. An 

 occasional specimen or two, however, may be picked out of my Amoy 

 series with a tinge of chestnut-brown on the under parts, showing 

 the tendency of the species towards the Japanese Z. japonica. Some 

 have the belly deeper grey than others. The yellow on the throat 



