220 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



2. ORDER INSESSORES.— The Perching Birds. 



HETERORNIS PYRRHOGENTS, Temminck. 



Lamprotornis pyrrhogenys, Temm. et Schleg. Faun. Jap,, p. 86, (1850.) 



Teinm. and Schleg. Faun. Jap. Aves, pi. 46. 



Numerous specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, this species having been found in 

 abundance in the neighborhood of Hakodadi, in the month of May, (1854.) 



It would be almost impossible to describe all the varieties in the distribution of the colors of 

 this handsome bird in the specimens before us, though evidently indicating difference of age 

 and sex, and always presenting sufficient similarity to be recognized without difficulty as the 

 same species. The adult males are very nearly as given in the plate in Fauna Japonica, above 

 cited. Head above white, back and shoulder fine metallic violet, wings and tail dark metallic 

 green, ears and sides of the neck bright chestnut, breast and sides cinereous, abdomen white ; 

 throat, rump, and under tail coverts dull ferrugineous. In all the more adult specimens, the 

 throat is very nearly the same color as the rump, and more tinged with ferrugineous than in 

 ^Jemminck and Schlegel's plate. This ferrugineous is rather a remarkable color in this bird, 

 and has an appearance almost like a white linen or muslin tinged with an oxide of iron, or iron 

 moulded. 



In younger males, all the above colors are much less distinct, and the bright chestnut of the 

 cheeks scarcely perceptible. In females, this character is entirely wanting, and the entire upper 

 plumage is dull brownish cinereous. "Eye light yellow." 



We find the following note on this bird, by#Ir. Heine, in his manuscript now before us : 



"These beautiful and interesting birds abound near Hakodadi. In the gardens and woods 

 surrounding the dwellings of farmers and fishermen, they are as abundant as sparrows in this 

 country. They fly sometimes in pairs, but generally in larger numbers, with a short, jerking 

 motion. When alighted, they appear to be always on the move, hopping and flying about from 

 one place to another, and sometimes in a very eccentric and harlequin-like manner, which, 

 indeed, is the character of their manners generally. Any uncommon noise attracts their atten- 

 tion very quickly, and when I killed one of them, the report of the gun brought many others to 

 the spot. 



"The beautiful variegated plumage of these birds, which, in a bright sunshine, showed to 

 great advantage, and their many and curious attitudes, made them a most pleasing sight, and I 

 have frequently, when sitting under the shade of a tree, watched them with the greatest interest 



and pleasure." 



STURNTJS CINERACEUS, Temminck. 



Sturntjs cineraceus, Temm. pi. col. II, liv. 94. 



Temm. and Schleg. Taun. Jap. Aves, pi. 45; Temm. pi. col. 556. 



A single specimen from Hakodadi, where it was obtained in May, 1854. Though an easily 

 recognized species, and in the present specimen presenting all the characters well marked, the 

 colors are lighter than as represented in the plate of Fauna Japonica, above cited, and very 

 much like that in Planches Coloriees. "Eyes light yellow." 



EMBERIZA CIOPSIS, Bonaparte. 



Emberiza ciopsis, Bonap. Consp. Av., p. 466, (1850.) 



Emberiza cioides, Temm. and Schleg., Faun. Jap., p. 98, (1850, not of Brandt.) 



