8808 



Birds* 



145. Calidris arenaria. 



146. Strepsilas interpres, L. 



147. Lobipes hyperboreus, L. 



148. Scolopax rusticola, L. 



149. Gallinago scolopacina, Bonap. 



150. G. stenura, Temm. 



151. G. megala, Swinhoe. Ibis, 1861, p. 343. 



152. Ibis nippon, Schleg. Faun. Jap on. 



153. Platalea major, Schleg. Faun. Japan. 



154. Ardea cinerea, L. 



155. Herodias alba, L. 



156. H. garzetta, L. 



157. H. eulophotes, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 64. 



158. Buphus cororaandus, Bodd. This species arrives in Formosa 

 in April in very large flocks, which do not separate, but breed together, 

 feed together, and remain in constant company till they leave our 

 shores again in the beginning of October. They are very partial to 

 insects, and may be frequently seen seated on the backs of and near 

 cattle, catching the flies that swarm about them. I have found in 

 their stomachs maggots, grasshoppers, and. many other insects ; but 

 they do feed on fish when they can get them, though they are by no 

 means such assiduous fishermen as many of their brethren are. They 

 are much tamer than most herons, and so are easily approached within 

 shot. In confinement they soon become tame and docile, and will 

 feed readily on almost any food offered. They often build in com- 

 pany with the egrets and other herons on the branches of trees, fighting 

 and squabbling together, and robbing one another's nests of materials 

 in much the same manner. The nest is merely a small flat pannier of 

 twigs, on which .three eggs are usually laid. The eggs are bluish 

 white, with a tinge of green, much lighter and rather larger than those 

 of H. garzetta. In South China and Formosa this bird, as I said 

 before, is only found as a summer visitant, wending southwards in 

 winter, which season it doubtless passes in India and its archipelago, 

 though I can find no note of that in any work. 



159. Butorides javanicus, Horsf. This solitary, skulking, bittern- 

 like species is abundant in all marshy grounds throughout Formosa, a 

 few also occurring in winter. It feeds by day, prowling about in the 

 water-covered fields of paddy, searching for tadpoles, shrimps, and 

 small fish, as well as for grasshoppers and many kinds of insects. At 

 night it roosts on long reeds and bamboos, or on the branches of trees. 

 On these I have seen it nesting. I procured one egg at Taiwanfoo, 



