8802 



Birds. 



most liberally presented the skeleton to this museum, and it is now being prepared, 

 but some months will' elapse before it is ready for inspection. — Thomas J. Moore ; 

 Museum, William Broivn Street, Liverpool. — 1 Naturalists' Scrap-Book,' p. 103. 



The Ornithology of Formosa or Taiwan. 

 By Robert Swinhoe, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c * 



(Concluded from page 8760). 



.81.- Anthus Richardi, Vieill. 



82. Alauda coelivox, Swinhoe, Zool. 6723. Throughout the plains, 

 the downs, the grassy plateaux, wherever the locality is suitable in 

 Formosa, this little lark is found, delighting the ear of the savage, the 

 colonist, and the adventurer alike, with its sweet song as it disappears 

 into the sky. But it often also sings on the ground, or mounted 

 on some stone or prominence. In the Pescadore Islands, between 

 Formosa and the main, it is also very common, and almost the only 

 bird there. It is abundant in the South of China, from Canton to 

 Foochow. In Shanghai it is replaced by a similar form, but interme- 

 diate in size and proportions between it and the so-called A. arvensis 

 of Peking and its neighbourhood. In my large series of skins from 

 Formosa there is considerable variation in the length and thickness 

 of the bill, some, in the bulkiness of that organ, drawing close to the 

 Mirafrae of Africa and India. For a more detailed account of this 

 bird I must refer my readers to the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 6723). 



83. Emberiza spodocephala, Pall. 



84. E. sulphurata, Schleg. 



85. E. aureola, Pall. 



86. E. fucata, Pall. 



87. E. cioides, Temm. 



88. Fringilla sinica, L. 



89. Passer montanus, L. The prevailing house sparrow, as in 

 China. Its eggs are very variable, even in the same nest, as to colour, 

 size and shape. 



90. P. russatus, Temm. Schleg. Faun. Japon. p. 90, pi. 50. In 

 places where it occurs it is a shy bird, frequenting retired spots on 



* I have lately seen the specimen of Kegulus modestus in Mr. Hancock's col- 

 lection at Newcastle. That bird was shot by Mr. Hancock on the coast of Yorkshire, 

 and I can vouch for its being identical with our Chinese Reguloides superciliosus, 

 mentioned at page 8557.— R. S. 



