230 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c. 



XXII. — Letters, Extracts from Corj-espondence, Notices, ^c. 



We have received the following letters^ addressd " To the Editor 



oftheabis^'^— 



Takow, S.W. Formosa, 

 1 December, 1864. 



Sir, — I have to address to you my monthly report of pro- 

 gress for the ' Ibis '. I must begin with an addition to the 

 Chinese avifauna in the shape of 



Merops philippensiSj Linn., an immature specimen of which 

 was shot at Swatow in the beginning of winter, and forwarded 

 to me by Consul Caine. The morn of our researches here is yet 

 grey, though the rosy hue of promise is commencing to tinge 

 the horizon. I only reached this place on the 7th of November, 

 but my net is already spread, and there is every prospect of a 

 successful haul of new species, a few of which I hope to advise 

 you of in my next letter. 



On the 15th of November I procured a fine male Circus spi- 

 lonotus, Kaup; and on a subsequent occasion I watched two 

 females, which, however, fought shy of me. The male was shot 

 by a friend between this place and Taiwanfoo. Its total length 

 was 21 inches ; tail 9*75 in. ; tarse 3*5 in., feathered down the 

 front for about 1"25 in.; middle toe and claw 2*5 in. Legs 

 I'ich chrome-yellow, ochreous on the tarsi. This specimen is 

 more mature than that figured in the 'Ibis' (1863, Plate V.), 

 the tibial feathers and under parts from the breast downwards 

 being pure white. The feathers of the breast have narrow 

 black medial streaks ; the head, especially its sides and cheeks, 

 is blacker ; and the wings are greyer than in the subject of 

 the plate. There is no nearer approach to the appearance of 

 C. melanoleucus in the upper parts. From the state of the 

 quills in this specimen, this species appears to have an autumnal 

 moult. 



This part of Formosa scarcely feels the north-east monsoon, 

 and consequently its winter is almost tropical. Many birds that 

 in Southern China and Tamsuy are only summer visitants, are 

 here daily to be met with now, and, I suspect, all the winter 

 through. Rhynchcea sinensis, sive bengalensis, sive capensis (for 

 they all appear to be one and the same species) is not uncommon. 



