

SPIZIXOS SEMITORQUES, Swinh. 



Chinese Spizixos. 



Spizixos semitorques, Swinh. in Ibis, 1861, p. 266 ; and Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1863, pp. 278, 334. 



Science is indebted to Mr. Swinhoe for the discovery of this second species of Spizivos, the Chinese or 

 eastern representative of the more western S. canifrons of Sylhet, from which it differs in having the crest 

 but slightly developed, and in some parts of its colouring. These differences are noted in the following 

 extract from the ' Ibis ' for 1861, which comprises all that Mr. Swinhoe has recorded respecting this new bird. 



" A common species on the Pehling plateau, where it frequents the bushes, and appears to be substituted 

 for the Pycnonotus occipitalis of the plains below. Mr. Blyth considers it a typical Spizixos, and says it 

 differs from his S. canifrom by its black forehead, want of crest, the greater extent of black on the throat, 

 &c; but that, except in the head and neck, there is hardly any difference." In the 'Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society' for 1863 he says it is "a resident species in the high plateau near Foochow. I have 

 also procured it from the mountain-ranges of Formosa. Sexes alike." 



As is the case with the S. canifrons, examples of the S. semitorques are rarely to be met with in the col- 

 lections of Europe ; fine specimens may, however, be seen in that at the British Museum and in Mr. Swinhoe' s 

 possession. 



To say that this bird has not been figured before would be incorrect, for, although it has not appeared in 

 any ornithological work, I have seen it very fairly represented in Chinese drawings ; we may therefore infer 

 that it is a familiar object with the native artists of the Celestial Empire. Of its habits, food, and general 

 economy nothing has been recorded; which is the more to be regretted, inasmuch as the singular form of 

 the bill would seem to indicate that they are characterized by some peculiarities. 



Head black, passing into blackish grey on the occiput and hinder part of the neck ; a white patch on each 

 side of the forehead and at the base of the lower mandible ; cheeks streaked with white, which accumulating 

 form a patch on each side of the nape, and advancing to the front of the neck, where they become mingled 

 with dark grey, form a half-collar ; upper surface, breast, and flanks olive-green ; inner webs and shafts of 

 the primaries rich brown ; the remainder of the wing yellowish olive-green, with an edging of bright greenish 

 yellow; tail olive-green, with a black band at the tip, and the shafts and edges of the inner webs brown; 

 under surface bright greenish yellow; irides brown ; bill pale yellow ; legs and claws pale liver-brown. 



The figures are of the natural size, or, if at all different, perhaps a trifle smaller. 



The plant is the Thladiantha dubia. 





