293 
Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
1/ 
can confirm, excepting the fact of its breeding “ in the hollows 
of the trunks of trees.” All the nests that I have come across 
in China of this species have been built in loose circular form, 
large and domed, and placed among the topmost twigs of 
high trees. But perhaps this bird, like Acridotheres cristatellus 
(L.), sometimes adopts one style and at other times another, 
consulting its own taste and necessity. The Siamese represen¬ 
tative of A . cristatellus , my A. siamensis (P. Z, S. 1863, p. 45), 
Sir Robert does not mention. 
The Crow Pheasant, Centropus philippensis, is said to be “ not 
larger than our Cuckoos.” Surely Centropus affinis (Horsf.) is 
meant. Both species are, however, known to inhabit Siam. Their 
breeding-habits have been observed and already described by 
other travellers. 
I question whether the Siamese Copsychus be not rather C. 
mindanensis than C. saularis. If it be so, what is the range of 
the former species ? 
Estrelda amandava is brought in large numbers from the 
Straits to China as a cage-bird. 
The description given of Hydrophasianus sinensis applies to 
Metopidius indicus rather than to the first-named bird. 
On the 7th of October, while returning from the Snipe- 
marshes near Takow, 1 got a close view of a Locustella , which I 
think was my L. minuta, before noted in South China. Some 
way up a hill I heard the cry of Kestrels, and seeing a wing 
flapping, I thought it was one in the jaws of some beast of prey. 
I clambered up the hill, and had almost reached the spot, when 
up flew two Kestrels from each other's embrace. They were 
immature birds; but as I had no gun with me I was obliged to 
let them fly away in peace. The spot where they had been 
fighting was stained with blood and covered with feathers. I 
continued my ramble, and from a rock again put up one of 
them. He looked “ seedy,” and I suspect was one of the com¬ 
batants. 
October 14.—A party of Night-Herons ( Nycticorax griseus) 
flew overhead just as it was getting dark. They hovered over 
the confines of the sea, and then turned back. Their flight is 
/ tLj 
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