8804 



Birds. 



crow was not always setting up this cry, whether any mishap had 

 happened to them or not. In reply to this they shrugged their 

 shoulders and laughed, as they always do when the follies of their 

 superstitions are pointed out to them, but they do not believe in them 

 the less for that. 



97. Pica media, Blytli. 



98. Urocissa caerulea, Gould, Proc. Zool Soc. 1862, p. 282. The 

 mountain nymph is by no means an uncommon bird in the large 

 camphor-forests of the mountain range. It is there to be met with in 

 small parties of six or more, flying from tree to tree, brandishing 

 about their handsome tail-appendages, and displaying their brightly 

 contrasted black-and-azure plumage adorned with white, and their 

 red bill and legs, among the deep foliage of the wood. They are shy 

 birds, soon taking alarm at the approach of a stranger, giving warning 

 to each other in loud notes, and then gliding away one after another 

 with a straight flight into an adjoining tree (the flight being executed 

 with short quick flaps of the wing, while the body and tail are held 

 nearly horizontal). They feed on wild figs, mountain berries, and 

 insects, chiefly Melolonthine Coleoptera. 



99. Garrulus taivanus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 282. Though 

 the members of this genus are somewhat migratory, yet their pere- 

 grinations are always within a limited sphere ; and wherever the jay 

 occurs in isolated localities we meet with aberrations from the typical 

 form. This apparent rule in this interesting group is highly sug- 

 gestive. 



100. Dendrocitta sinensis, var. Formosa?. 



101. Megalsema nuchalis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 283. 

 This barbet is a true forest-bird, frequenting the higher mountains of 

 the interior, where it may be met with in great abundance, though 

 generally scattered through the wood singly or in pairs. It affects the 

 highest branches of large trees, sitting solitary and often motionless 

 for hours together. Its note is loud and discordant, the bird often 

 making its presence known by its voice when one would otherwise 

 pass it by unnoticed from the resemblance of its plumage to the 

 general foliage. When seen flying from tree to tree it looks like a 

 cross between an oriole and a parrot, if such a thing can be imagined. 

 It feeds on berries and occasionally on insects, also, as I am told, on 

 small birds. 



102. Gecinns tancola, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 283. 



103. Picus insularis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 283. 



104. P. kaleensis, Swinhoe. 



