318 MR. R. 6WINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. [JunC 23, 



nately, not been named. Nothing is known of it except from Cas- 

 sin's short note. 



315. NuMENius TAHiTiENSis, Gmcl. ; Cassin in Perry's Expe- 

 dition to Japan, ii. p. 228. 



This species was procured by the members of the American Ex- 

 pedition to Japan under Commodore Perry. It was previously con- 

 sidered peculiar to Otaheite and the islands of the Pacific. Figures 

 and a good description of it are given in the work named. It may 

 have been only a straggler to the Japanese shores ; but I include it 

 in my Hst on the probability of its also occasionally occurring on the 

 shores of China. I strongly suspect, however, that it is identical 

 with the foregoing N. uropyyialis. 



316. NUMENIUS ARCUATUS, L. 



Visits the coasts of China, as far south as Canton, in large flocks in 

 winter, retiring northwards on approach of summer. Von Schrenck 

 does not note it from Amoorland. 



317. NuMENius MAJOR, Tcmm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. 



Distinguished from the last by its much longer and heavier bill 

 and by its longer legs. Visits the shores of South China and For- 

 mosa in winter, and probably retires to Japan to breed, whence it 

 was originally described. 



318. NUMENIUS AUSTRALIS, Gould. 



Easily distinguished from N. arcuatus and allied species by its 

 barred upper tail- coverts. It is the only Curlew reported from 

 Amoorland. I found it very abundant about the marshes near Pekin 

 in August, but have never observed it on the coasts of South China ; 

 hence 1 should infer that its migrations are in an easterly direction 

 towards Australia, in which country it is found in winter. 



319. NuMENius RUFESCENS, Gould, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 286. 



Appears to be a local race of the last, being, like it, barred on the 

 rump, but much more rufescent. I found it breeding in North 

 Formosa. 



320. Threskiornis melanocephalus, L. 1 



This is the only known species to which I can liken the black- 

 headed white Ibises that I met in a flock at Talienwan in July 1 860 

 (see The Ibis, 1861, p. 261). It is found in India, and, as is the 

 case with many other Indian species of birds, probably summers in 

 the interior of North China. It has not been recorded by others 

 from Eastern Asia. 



321. Ibis Nippon, Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. 



Breeds probably in Japan, and is found in small parties on the 

 coast near Shanghai and at North Formosa in winter. The imma- 

 ture plumage is grey ; that of the adult pure white. 



