1863.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. 285 



reus. All these species have similar call-notes, and feed chiefly on 

 tree-bugs (Cimicidce') and their eggs, in search of which they creep 

 and hang about among the leaves and branches of large trees, ran- 

 ging the country in flocks. 



119. Pericrocotus speciostjs. Lath. 



Phcenicornis princeps, Gould. 



I have only one of this species, purchased alive from a boy who 

 was playing with it at Foochow. I have never met with it in my 

 rambles. Its plumage is of such a dazzling red that it quite hurts 

 the eyes to look at it, affording a strong contrast to the sober hues 

 of the three above. 



DiCRXJRID.E. 



120. DiCRURUS LEUCOPH.EUS, YieiU. 



General plumage light bluish grey ; the eye standing in a conspi- 

 cuous white cheek-patch ; nasal feathers, edge of outer rectrices, 

 shafts of quills and tail, and greater part of most of primaries black ; 

 bill and legs black ; irides carmine-red. This species is, strangely 

 enough, not mentioned in Jerdon's ' Birds of India.' It has been 

 received from the Malayan peninsula, where it is probably only a 

 winter visitant, and is quite a distinct bird from D. cineraceus, Horsf., 

 which is a Javan species. In China it is common in summer 

 about the Vale of Foochow, and probably extends into the interior 

 of Central China, My specimens agree precisely with a Malacca 

 skin in Mr. Gould's collection. Captain Blakiston procured it at 

 Canton in September, on its southward migration, and I have pro- 

 cured it at Amoy on its spring return, but its summer habitat does 

 not appear to extend south of the latitude of Foochow. It will pro- 

 bably be found during that season to range as far north as Ningpo, 

 though at Shanghai it is not known. 



121. DiCRURUs MACROCERCus, Vieillot. 



Adult deep black, glossed with blue and green. Young birds 

 dark brown, without the gloss, and mottled on the axillaries and 

 lower parts with white. A summer visitant throughout China right 

 up into Amoorland. Exceedingly abundant in Formosa. I have a 

 specimen from Hankow, Central China. Appears to be the most 

 widely spread Dicriirus. 



A third species of Bicrurus visited our garden at Amoy one spring. 

 It was much smaller than either of the foregoing, and sang most 

 sweetly. It stayed a few days and then disappeared. Though this 

 was many years ago, I have never seen the form since. 



122. Chibia hottentotta, L. 



I have a pair shot at Amoy in the spring of 186 1, and I have seen 

 another from Tientsin (North China). We must suppose, then, that 

 this species is a summer visitant to China, and at that season sparsely 

 scattered throughout that land. Ours is identical with the Indian 

 bird. The female is dingier than the male, and not so well marked. 



