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



further north. In winter assembles in large flocks and ranges about 

 the country, often associating with the foregoing. 



216. Het^rornis sinensis. 



Oriolus sinensis, Gmel. 

 O. buffonianus, Shaw. 

 Pastor turdiformis, Wagl. 

 Sturnia cana, Blyth. 



Arrives in large numbers in spring in South China, frequenting 

 houses, and building in the holes of their roofs. It stays the summer, 

 and then disappears. It is in that season very common from Canton 

 to a little above Amoy, not extending so far north as Foochow. Its 

 winter migration appears to extend into Pegu, whence identical spe- 

 cimens have been received. All the species of this genus become 

 strongly tinged in the breeding-season with a rusty buff, very bright 

 in parts. In the autumn the moult takes place, when the feathers 

 resume their natural colour. What is the cause of this tint I cannot 

 divine ; but, to show how strong it is, Mr. Blyth named the species 

 from the Nicobars H. erythropygius, from its red rump. The next 

 specimen he procured was later in the season, and the red-tinged parts 

 had moulted into their natural white colours. This tinge is perhaps 

 analogous to that of the breast of Gypa'etus barbatus, of the Teal, 

 and of several other birds. In our bird it is too generally diffused to 

 suppose that it has been rubbed on extraneously. It comes doubt- 

 less from the body of the bird, and must owe its origin to some con- 

 stitutional peculiarity. 



217. Het^rornis dauricus. 



Sturnus dauricus, Pall. 

 Turdus dominicanus, Gm. 

 Pastor malayensis, Eyton. 



Found in North China and Amoorland in summer ; its southward 

 migration would appear to extend into Hindostan, the Malayan pe- 

 ninsula, and Java, whence specimens have been received. It does 

 not appear to travel down the Chinese coast to its winter destination, 

 or we should have met with it in South China, which we never have. 

 It probably takes an inland route through Daouria, whence Pallas 

 obtained and described his type specimens. 



This species is replaced in Japan by the little H. pyrrhogenys, 

 Miill. {Lamprotornis pyrrhopoyon, Schleg. Faun. Jap.), which is 

 there a summer visitant only, being found during the winter in the 

 Philippines, whence I have received skins. I naturally expected to 

 find it touching on its travels at Formosa, but did not ; nor have I 

 ever come across it on the Chinese coast. I may here remark that a 

 specimen of this bird sent to Mr. Blyth was described by him as a 

 new species, under the name Calornis albifrons. 



218. Acridotheres cristatellus, L. 



Found in China as a resident species, from Canton to Shanghai. 



