8748 



Birds. 



the Hee-ah is an abundant species, found all the year through. In 

 the winter it associates in large flocks, many of these consisting almost 

 entirely of males, and ranges about from wood to wood and tree to 

 tree in the lower country. The females generally prefer remaining in 

 the denser shelter of the mountain jungle, and do not evince such 

 roving spirits as their lords ; hence the small number of this sex that 

 I was enabled to procure as compared with males. When on the 

 wing, and in fact wherever they are, the Pericrocoti soon made their 

 presence known by their peculiar trilling note, which has some resem- 

 blance to that of a canary, but yet differs from that of any other bird 

 ] know. All the species that I have met with in a wild state have the 

 same style of note, though disagreeing in many other respects, and by 

 practice can easily be distinguished. On a bright sunny day to wit- 

 ness a party of these birds fly across a wooded glen is a magnificent 

 sight, the brilliancy of their tints contrasting well with the sombre hue 

 of the surrounding foliage. But it is a still more beautiful sight to 

 watch a group of these pretty creatures, male and female, examining 

 an evergreen tree for insects. They frisk and flutter about the leaves, 

 throwing themselves into all sorts of positions, and assuming the most 

 difficult attitudes, as if delighting, in the ordinary business of feeding, 

 to show to the greatest advantage those charms with which Nature 

 has so amply endowed them. In summer they retire into the depths 

 of the highest forests, whither it was impossible for me to follow them. 



27. Graucalus rex-pineti, Swinhoe. 



28. Dicrurus macrocercus, Lath. Mr. Blyth has identified our 

 Chinese black drongo with the Indian bird that bears the above name. 

 It is found throughout China, as far as the Amoor ; but nowhere on 

 the main did I observe it so specially common as at Formosa. Here, 

 in all parts, both north and south, almost every bird you meet with is 

 a black' drongo, sometimes ^perched on the top of a tall bamboo, 

 uttering its loud discordant metallic notes, at others skimming with 

 long undulating flight across the country, chasing with quick turns an 

 insect or small bird, or again seated demurely on the back of a lazy 

 buffalo, waiting to snap the flies that swarm to torment his hide. In 

 fact you fancy yourself in the country of the drongos. They may 

 often be seen in large parties, though they never exactly flock toge- 

 ther. A field may contain a dozen of them, perched on every avail- 

 able prominence ; yet when they are alarmed each individual thinks 

 of himself alone, and rarely follows the direction of his companions. 

 Some continue all the year through, but in March their numbers are 

 greatly increased by fresh arrivals. They soon commence pursuing 



