Mr. B. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology . 419 
158. Buphus coromandus (Bodd.). 
It is my opinion that, under the term Busset Heron, two 
species are confounded, the one being found in South Europe and 
Africa, and the other in India and its archipelago, and, as a 
summer visitant, in China. Our Eastern bird can, even in its 
white winter plumage, be distinguished by the greater length of 
its bill, which is generally half an inch longer, and by its more 
naked tibiae. In the summer plumage the distinctness is marked. 
The African has the crown of its head and its under neck only 
buff-colour, tinged with a vinaceous hue. In ours the entire 
head, neck, and breast are clothed with orange-coloured feathers, 
those of the breast only having a slight vinaceous tinge : the 
centre of the back is also orange; but the long loose dorsal 
plumes are light vinaceous pink. I see that the European form 
has been distinguished by M. Boux as a different species, under 
the term Ardea veranii , and that of Java by Horsfield as the 
A. affinis ; but why multiply synonyms ? A. russata has been 
applied by Temminck to the European bird, and A. coromanda 
is an old name for the Eastern form. All the specimens of 
undoubted European birds I have examined are alike, and are 
easily to be distinguished from the Asiatic, especially in summer 
plumage. 
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 company 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 
