8756 



Birds. 



53. Parus castaneiventris, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 280. 



54. Alcippe Morrisonia, Swinhoe. 



55. A. brunnea, Gould, Proc. Zool Soc. 1862, p. 280. 



56. Pratincola indica, Blyth. 



57. Ianthia cyanura, Temm. % Schl. 



58. Calliope kamtschatkensis, Gmel. 



59. Ruticilla fuliginosa, Vigors. 



60. R. aurorea, Pall. 



61. Drymoeca extensicauda, Swinhoe, Ibis, I860, p. 50. They are 

 found throughout all the low country of Formosa, affecting places 

 covered with coarse long grass, about the tops of which they flit and 

 twitter, throwing their tails up and from side to side as they spring up 

 the long grass-blade. Their song is merely a quick repetition of their 

 usual twittering call-note. They feed on small Dipterous caterpillars 

 and other insects. Their nests are very elegant little pieces of work- 

 manship, consisting of a deep cup with a canopy, entirely composed 

 of fine grass. When first made they are quite green, and elude well 

 the eye of search as they stand sustained between the stems of long 

 grasses. The bird lays from three to seven eggs, of a light greenish 

 blue, spotted, blotched and waved, chiefly at the larger end, with 

 various shades of chocolate-brown. They average "55 by '48, but vary 

 in size and shape, and the distribution of the chocolate markings 

 assumes all manner of fanciful forms. I have a very large series, and 

 they are, I think, the prettiest eggs 1 have ever seen. 



62. Drymoeca fiavirostris, Swinhoe. 



63. Suya striata, Swinhoe, Journ. N. China Branch As. Soc. Shang. 

 1858. 



64. Prinia sonitans, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 50. This bird, found 

 in all gardens and hedgerows throughout the plains of Formosa, is 

 identical with that found on the Chinese main, from Canton to Foo- 

 chow. It has only ten feathers in the tail, and two stiff black bristles 

 on each side of the base of the upper mandible, together with several 

 shorter ones under the eye and on the chin. It creeps about the 

 bushes and long grass, making a cracking noise, I think with the tail, 

 as it springs from stem to stem. It has a long, trilling call-note, and 

 a short, sweet song, which the male gives forth as it stands perched 

 on some prominent twig. It has also a curious alarm -note, resem- 

 bling something the mew of a kitten. It is fond of frisking its tail 

 about and throwing it up. It feeds on small insects, chiefly Diptera 

 and caterpillars. It attaches its nest usually between the stalks of 

 long grasses ; at other times it places it in bushes. The nest is 



