284 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
44. Pomatorhinus musicus, Swinhoe, Journ. As. Soc. of 
Shanghai, vol. ii. p. 228. (Plate VI.) 
In 1857, in my voyage round Formosa in H. M. S. f Inflexible/ 
I first came across this species, and described it under the above 
name at a meeting of the North China Branch of the Asiatic 
Society at Shanghai. It is a very abundant species throughout 
all the flat country and lower hills of Formosa. In every grove 
and plantation you are sure to find some of this species in small 
parties or in pairs, and frequently in company with the common 
Garrulax taivanus. They have also much the habits of that 
group, collecting in a bush and chattering loudly together, or 
hopping from bough to bough, with rounded back and rounded, 
partially expanded tail. They have also the same affectionate 
manners towards one another, sidling together on a bough, and 
rubbing and pecking one another coaxingly. Like G. taivanus , 
they breed twice, and sometimes thrice, during the summer, 
building in the same sort of places and of similar materials, but 
making larger nests of a rounded form. Their eggs are of a 
somewhat glossy white , and are generally three in number; they 
measure *9 by *62. Their food consists of Coleopterous and other 
insects; but they have a great partiality for the large Cicada and 
their larvae, thus rendering a great service by thinning the num¬ 
bers of these noisy pests. I have never found remains of birds 
in their stomach; and indeed, judging from their bills, I do not 
well see how they could destroy birds. Like others of the Gar¬ 
rulax group, if their food is too large, they hold it down under 
their claws while they peck it to pieces with their bill. Some 
species of Garrulax , I am told, attach their prey to thorns, like 
the Laniida , but this I have never observed. This bird occa¬ 
sionally throws its tail from side to side, but never at right angles 
like some of the smaller Australian Pomatorhini and the little 
P. stridulus of Foochow. 
There is not much music in its ordinary call-note; but when 
two or three are met together, and vie with one another in their 
strains, the effect is pleasing, though their melody is not to be 
compared to that of the Hwa-mei. When at rest in the middle 
of the day, hidden in some sombre hill-side wood, they keep on 
uttering at intervals a series of very liquid notes in regular 
