1863.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIROS OF CHINA. 265 



also similarly banded. On the Foochow hills I have heard the true 

 Cuckoo-note in June. Of the second series, I have one from Tientsin, 

 and four from Amoy. These are of similar form, with fulvescent 

 under parts banded veith much broader bars more widely set, with 

 the axillaries nearly barless. One has a somewhat large bill, and 

 two are almost entirely blackish brown in the parts which should 

 be grey. I have never heard the notes of the race that touches in 

 greatest abundance at Amoy in its migrations, and therefore will not 

 attempt at present to separate it. It may be found, on further 

 acquaintance, worthy of specific distinction. This variety is not 

 noted in Jerdon. The true Cuckoo is very variable in tints, length 

 of wing, and size of bill, and even in my small series leads away to the 

 following allied forms (which, however, differ from it in note) in 

 such a manner that I can hardly help thinking that the various races 

 interbreed, the offspring probably studying the note of that parent 

 to which its inherited form most assimilates, and to the society of 

 which it is on that account attracted. The straggler which I pro- 

 cured in south-west Formosa belongs to the second variety. 



41. CucuLXJS HiMALAYANUs, Vigors (not of Gould's ' Ccntury,' 

 which=^ C. poliocephalus, Lath.). 



C. saturatus, Hodgs. 



1 have an individual of this Cuckoo, shot at Amoy on its vernal 

 northward migration. It has been identified by Mr. Blyth, and 

 answers well to Jerdon's description (Birds of India, i. p. 323). It 

 is of similar form to C canorus, but is smaller and much more deeply 

 and brightly coloured. I have never observed it alive; but some 

 remarks on its habits and peculiar note are given in the work re- 

 ferred to. 



42. CucuLUS MiCROPTERTJS, Gould. 



Of this I have also one shot at Amoy, in the neighbourhood of 

 which place it is frequently seen and heard in spring. It is a plain- 

 dressed species, with very broad and widely set bars on the under 

 parts ; smaller than C. canorus, with rather a large bill (see Jerdon, 

 Birds of India, i. p. 326, where an account of its note and habits 

 are given). 



43. CuCULUS HYPERYTHRUS, Gould. 



I have only an immature bird, from Shanghai, the locality whence 

 Mr. Gould procured his typical specimen. This is a much more 

 powerful bird than C. canorus, with short wings and heavy bill. 

 The plumage of my bird is brown on the upper parts, with the yel- 

 lowish mottling of immaturity. The under parts are fulvous, barred 

 at long intervals with black, but there are deep-rust-colour indica- 

 tions of a change into what should be the plumage of the adult bird. 



44. HiEROCOCCYX FUGAX. 



Cuculus fuyax, Horsf. Linn. Trans, xiii. 



Cuculus sparverioides, v. Schrenck, Amurland, i. p. 24, t. 10. 



L 



