289 
Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
These birds are longer-winged and smarter in flight than the 
Pycnonotidce, but as regards general habits are closer in their 
affinities to them than to any other group. 
V 47. Ixos SINENSIS. 
Muscicapa sinensis , Gmel. 
Turdus occipitalis et palmarum , Temm. 
Pay-tow-kok of Amoy and Formosan Chinese. 
This is the commonest of the Pycnonotida in Southern China; 
it is said to be also very common in the Philippines, and in 
Formosa is our only species, being found in great abundance 
throughout all the low country. My specimens vary chiefly in 
the proportions of white and black on the head. T have one 
peculiar variety from Amoy. The Formosan form is essentially 
identical with the Chinese bird, having no special peculiarities 
of its own. It is, however, a bird abundant on the coasts of 
both the island and the main, and possesses no mean powers of 
flight; and though usually resident in localities where found, 
there could be no difficulty in supposing it occasionally to trans¬ 
port itself across the channel. 
Bill and legs black. Iris rich brown. Crown, moustache, and 
nuchal band black. Auriculars brown, ending in a large white 
spot. Upper parts brownish grey, each feather being margined 
laterally with yellowish olive-green. Quills and tail hair-brown, 
margined on outer webs with greenish yellow. Throat white; 
abroad pectoral band of light greyish brown. Under-parts pure 
w r hite in most specimens, with only a few yellow streaks; in 
others dingy yellowish white, most of the feathers margined 
exteriorly with sulphur-yellow. Under-wing wdiitish, the 4th 
and 5th quills equal and longest. Tail-feathers 12, somewhat 
graduated, with white under-shafts. 
The young, before the autumnal moult, have the entire upper 
parts and pectoral band brownish grey, deeper and somewhat 
mottled on the head. The back has a tinge of yellowish green, 
and the quills and tail are margined with the same. The bill 
and legs are brown; the iris greyish ; the throat and under¬ 
parts pure white. 
These birds subsist partly on insects, and partly on berries 
vol. v. x 
