296 MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. [June 23, 



P. sylvicultrix visits Amoy in large numbers during its autumnal 

 and vernal migrations. It probably summers in tbe interior of China 

 and about Ningpo and Shanghai. I have procured it in autumn in 

 south-west Formosa, and I have reason to believe it winters in 

 the Philippines. Its great destroyer is the Lanius lucionensis, 

 Strickl., which migrates about the same time, passing Amoy in 

 immense numbers, and crossing over to the Philippmes via south- 

 west Formosa. Professor Schlegel showed me some Willow-wrens, 

 I think from Halmahein, which seemed identical with Chinese ex- 

 amples of this bird. These would doubtless be the same that Pro- 

 fessor Blasius refers to as P.javanica, Horsf. (see Ibis, 1862, p. 69). 

 The type specimen of Horsfield's Sylvia javanica in the East India 

 Museum is, however, a Zosterops, as demonstrated by Mr. Blyth 

 and others years ago. It is not at all improbable that our P. si/lvi- 

 eultrix spreads in winter throughout the Malayan Islands. The 

 various Chinese species of Phyllopneuste, with the exception of P. 

 fuscata, Mr. Blyth and I have ascertained by actual comparison to 

 be quite distinct from those found in India. 



1 74. Phyllopneuste xanthodryas, n. sp. 



S , shot at Amoy on the 23rd of April 1861. Length 5-5 ; wing 

 2'9 ; tail 2-3. First primary pointed, -65; second '4, shorter than 

 the third, which is nearly of a length with the fourth and fifth. Bill 

 blackish brown on the upper mandible ; edge of ditto, tip, and lower 

 mandible yellow-ochre, rather dingy on the latter. Inside of mouth 

 light orange-yellow. Eyelid light black. Legs and claws pale brown, 

 with a tinge of yellow on the feet and claws. 



$ , shot on the 20th of May, at Amoy. Length 5"4 ; wing 2-7 ; 

 tail 2' 2. Bill and gape less yellow than before, the former browner. 

 Legs light sienna-yellow, tinged with brown. 



This is the largest Phyllopneuste I have met with in China. It 

 approaches P. coronata nearest in size of bill, but has no coronal 

 stripe, and the luider parts are much yellower. From P. sylvi- 

 cultrix it is easily recognized by its much superior size, its yellow 

 under parts, its more robust claws, the larger size of the first primary, 

 and the greater difference between the second and third. 



The gizzard of one dissected was round, compressed on the sides, 

 with a large circular tendon on each side. It was lined internally 

 with a thick rugous epithelium, and contained remains of flies. 



This species may, I think, be considered as a summer visitant to 

 Central China from the south, passing Amoy en route. 



175. Phyllopneuste plumbeitarsa. 



Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, p. 330. 

 Phyllopneuste rufa, von Schrenck, Amurland. 

 P. borealis, Blasius, Ibis, 1862, p. 69? 



I have only one specimen of this bird, procured near Pekin in 

 October, which I take to be an individual migrating southwards from 

 its summer quarters in Amoorland. From that region von Schrenck 



