210 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
very shy of approach; but by a fortunate shot my constable 
managed to put a bullet into one with an ordinary fowling-piece, 
at a distance of something like 300 yards. This specimen, which 
was a male, measured 21 inches; wing 17 j in.; expanse 56 in.; 
tail 8 in.; iris clear bright yellow, with a black line round it; 
bill black; basal edge of upper, basal half of lower, and cere 
bluish grey; inside of mouth light pinkish purple, with bluish 
white tongue; legs pale yellowish grey, tinged with blue ; claws 
black; ear-covert small, round, scarce in. in diameter, the 
bone depressed below, with an oval slit occupying the centre. 
This male specimen was somewhat larger than a male from 
the coast of China; but in both sexes I have found the Chinese 
birds smaller in every case than European examples. 
2. Buteo japonicus, Schleg. Eaun. Japon. 
Occasionally seen; no specimens procured. 
^ 3. Milvus govinda, Sykes. 
Milvus melanotis } Schleg. Faun. Japon. 
Mr. Gurney considers our Kite to be the true M. govinda of 
Sykes, which occurs in India and its archipelago, together with a 
cognate form, the M. affinis , Gould; and he is of opinion that the 
two forms from these localities have been confounded together 
by naturalists. As in China, so in Formosa, from the south to 
the north this species abounds, seeking its food more on the 
water and marshy grounds than on the land. It hovers for 
hours over the shipping in harbour, watching for any offal or 
refuse that may be thrown overboard. It is a very foul feeder, 
is generally impregnated with a disgusting odour, and swarms 
with lice, and is therefore not a very enticing bird to any one pos¬ 
sessed of ordinary sensibilities. 
4. Falco peregrinus, L. 
A fine male of this species was brought to me at Tamsuy, on 
the 20th March. It was quite fresh, only just having been 
killed by a native some miles up the river. I had much difficulty 
in inducing him to part with it, as he wanted the quill-feathers 
for a fan, and was particularly anxious to make iC chow-chow w 
of its flesh. This specimen measured 16 inches ; wing 12$ in.; 
tail 6 in. Apical third of bill blackish indigo, fading and blend- 
