Mr. R. Swinhoe on Foi'mosan Ornithology . 271 
In this large Butcher-bird we have an apparent confirmation 
of the modern theory of development. I have a large series of 
skins from Amoy, many of which show a strong tendency to 
lapse away into other closely affine species. Some have the 
frontal band reaching almost to the occiput, and lean towards 
L. nigriceps; others have the head nearly grey, and incline 
towards L. caniceps ; others have the tertiaries broadly mar¬ 
gined with buff-white, thus approaching L. erythronotus. Many 
of the smaller species seem to be descendants from, or, at least, 
of the same origin as, the Chinese type, and, though varying 
among themselves, always carry characters sufficient to dis¬ 
tinguish them. These Indian and Malayan forms are mostly 
smaller; but in Formosa we have a bird of .the same size and 
habits, and indeed singularly identical in every respect with the 
Chinese bird, except in a few of its hues. From my large series 
of Chinese skins I can produce one example or two ^distin¬ 
guishable from the Formosan variety, and from my Formosan 
skins I find an occasional specimen entirely like the Chinese 
bird, and yet, taken as series, they might by some be separated 
as of different species. 
The Formosan variety is much whiter on the under parts, the 
tint that pervades it being rosier and less ochreous than in the 
Chinese. In the majority of specimens the lower flanks and 
vent only are chestnut. The crown of the head is of a uniform 
colour \#th the hind neck, and not whitish grey. The tertiary 
quills are broadly margined with whitish chestnut; and the inner 
web of the first tail-feathers is black, instead of pale brown 
mottled with black. In this last the Formosan birds show a 
constancy, whereas the Chinese specimens have all proportions 
of black and pale brown. But, like the Chinese, the Formosan 
birds also evince a wonderful tendency to vary, some having the 
frontal black much higher than others, others the tertiaries 
margined with white instead of chestnut; others, again, have 
the first quills pale reddish brown, with scarcely any white spot 
on the wing. 
Average length of male 10 inches; wing 4J; tail 5J. The 
female is usually smaller, with rather shorter wings and tail. 
This group of Shrikes, with its comparatively short wings and 
