Birds. 



8805 



105. Centropus viridis. This bird is fond of perching on the thick 

 foliage of evergreen trees, balancing itself on its unstable perch by 

 means of its wings, and springing from one branch of leaves to ano- 

 ther, by means of its long lark-like claws, after locusts and other soft 

 insects of that family. It suspends its large rush-framed cradle be- 

 tween the long leaves of the sugar-cane and other reeds, weaving the 

 dried hanging leaves into the bottom of its nest, and thus forming 

 them into supports. In this rather rude structure it lays generally 

 four white eggs, which vary much in shape and size, but are usually 

 obtuse at both ends, averaging 1'3 by 1 inch, are rather thick-shelled 

 and rarely glossy. Its flight is straight, executed with short flaps and 

 once and again a motionless sail through the air, the tail being held 

 somewhat horizontally, but generally rather on the decline. At the 

 end of September, 1861, a nest of four live young birds was brought 

 to me, and I kept them alive some time. Like other young cuckoos, 

 their appetites were insatiable, and when nearly choking they would 

 still continue their cry for more food. This cry is a loud and frequent 

 imitation of the syllable " churr." As soon as you left them to them- 

 selves their notes would change to " toc-toc-too," uttered in a subdued 

 voice. This last note is often heard from the adult bird. The little 

 creatures, only partially clothed with a rufous down, with the quills 

 only just beginning to sprout, looked complete oddities. Their mouths 

 were of a dark red-pink. A week after, the inside of their mouths had 

 paled to fiesh-colour with the top of the tongue black, the beak was 

 flesh-coloured washed with brownish, irides gray, legs leaden violet ; 

 the lark-heel was then very short. 



106. Cuculus kelungensis, Swinlwe. 



107. C. canorus, L. On the coast near Taiwanfoo I procured a 

 stray specimen of this species. Mr. Blyth has examined and iden- 

 tified it. It was procured in September, and was apparently on its 

 southerly migration. I never heard or saw the European cuckoo at 

 any other time in Formosa. 



108. Treron Formosa?, Swinhoe. 



109. Turtur rupicola, Pallas. 



110. T. chinensis, Scop. 



111. T. humilis, Temm. 



112. Coturnix communis, Bonn. 



113. Turnix ocellatus, Scop. Chinese name, Bo-bay (tail-less) Kaw- 

 toon. 



114. Excalfactoria chinensis, L. Chinese name, Koo-lew. 



115. Bambusicola sonorivox, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1862, p. 285. 



