CHAP. XVIII JAPAN AND FORMOSA 406 



This list exhibits to us the remarkable fact that nearly- 

 half the peculiar species of Formosan birds have their 

 nearest allies in such remote regions as the Himalayas, 

 South India, the Malay Islands, or Japan, rather than 

 in the adjacent parts of the Asiatic continent. Seven 

 species have Himalayan allies, and six of these belong to 

 genera which are unknown in China. One species has its 

 nearest ally in the Nilgherries, and four in the Malay 

 Islands ; and of these five, two belong to genera which are 

 not Chinese. Two species have their only near allies in 

 Japan. Perhaps more curious still are those cases in which 

 though the genus is Chinese, the nearest allied species 

 is to be sought for in some remote region. Thus we have 

 the Formosan babbler {Gamdax ruficeps) not allied to the 

 species found in South China, but to one inhabiting North 

 India and East Thibet ; while the black bulbul {Hypsipdes 

 nigerrimus) is not allied to the Chinese species but to an 

 Assamese form. 



In the same category as the above we must place eight 

 species which are not peculiar to Formosa, but which are 

 Indian or Malayan rather than Chinese, so that they offer 

 examples of discontinuous distribution somewhat analogous 

 to what we found to occur in Japan. These are enumerated 

 in the following list. 



Species of Birds common to Formosa and India or Malaya, but not 

 FOUND in China. 



1. Siphia superciliaris. The Rufous-breasted Flycatcher of the S.E. 



Himalayas. 



2. Halcyon coromanda. The Great Red Kingfisher of India, Malaya, and 



Japan. 



3. Palumhus pukhricollis. The Darjeeling Wood-pigeon of the S.E. 



Himalayas. 



4. Turnix ditssumieri. The larger Button- quail of India. 



5. Spizaetus nipalensis. The Spotted Hawk-eagle of Nepal and Assam. 



6. Lophospiza trivirgata. The Crested Gos-hawk of the Malay Islands. 



7. Biildca newarensis. The Brown Wood-owl of the Himalayas. 



8. Strix Candida, The Grass-owl of India and Malaya. 



The most interesting of the above are the pigeon and 

 the flycatcher, both of which are, so far as yet known, 

 strictly confined to the Himalayan mountains and Formosa. 



