204 MR. R. swiNHOE ON zosTEROPS. [May 26, 



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 

 and vent varies in intensity, as also does the green of the upper parts ; 

 but these are chiefly distinctions of sex and age, I have one pale, 

 almost yellow variety, procured by Capt. Blakiston at Canton. All 

 the adults have the black lore- and eye-line peculiar to so many of 

 this group. I have specimens from Hong Kong, Macao, Canton, 

 Amoy, Foochow, and Formosa ; and they all agree in essential cha- 

 racters. 



ZoSTEROPS ERYTHROPLEURA, U. Sp. 



Z. chloronotus, v. Schrenck (nee Gould). 



Lateribus utrinque saturate castuneo-rufis. 



Long, alse 2| poll., caudse \'7. 



The distribution of this species extends from Shanghai into Amoor- 

 land. I had, until lately, confounded it with the Z. japonica of 

 Japan ; but while on a visit to M. Jules Verreaux at Paris, I had the 

 pleasure of examining for the first time a veritable Japanese specimen, 

 and of comparing it with North China skins. The difference in 

 the two birds is striking. Both have, like the preceding, black mark- 

 ings on the lore- and partly round the white eye-ring. The under 

 parts of Z. japonica are a dull light brownish chestnut, while the 

 flanks of this species are of a deep rusty chestnut. This bird is 

 larger and longer-winged than our South China species, but is ex- 

 ceeded in both by the Japanese. I here exhibit two specimens from 

 Shanghai, kindly lent me by M. Jules Verreaux, and one from Tien- 

 tsin. The two former are much brighter on the flanks than the 

 latter ; but as they are both males, and our Tientsin bird is a female, 

 the difference may be only a sexual one, and not one of locality. 

 What could have induced M. v. Schrenck, in his ' Amoorland,' to 

 confuse this species with the Z. chloronota, Gould, of Australia, I 

 cannot understand. I am enabled to produce a specimen of this last 

 from M, Verreaux's collection, the shape of the bill and head of 

 which, as well as the dull sordid colour of the plumage, show at once 

 a marked difference from the Chinese bird. Indeed there are many 

 species from Asia and Africa far more closely allied to our species 

 than is the Z. chloronota. For comparison with the two Chinese 

 species, I am enabled to bring before the Society the Z. palpebrosa. 

 Gray, of India, the Z. japonica, T. & S., and two Australian species, 

 Z. chloronota, Gould, and Z. ccerulescens, Blyth. I think all prac- 

 tical ornithologists will agree with me in considering the three forms 

 of Eastern Asia as distinct inter se, and from all others of this nu- 

 merously represented group. As I have never met the North China 

 species alive, except as a cage-bird, I have nothing special to relate 

 regarding its habits. 



I 



