Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 303 
set foot in that isle.” The Chinese rule has not introduced a 
better order of things, but has rather most unhappily thrown in 
a more powerful element to provoke dissension and mutual ex¬ 
termination among the ill-fated heirs to the soil. If Formosa 
is ever destined to be a jewel in some European crown, our 
little Bulomachus may some day find himself emblazoned on the 
armorial bearings of a well-governed colony. Meanwhile I can¬ 
not do better than let his pretty portrait adorn the pages of f The 
Ibis/- I send you the better of the two skins I possess, and I 
am sure Mr. Wolf will do the species justice. Its claims on the 
naturalist, and on the politician equally, demand for it a first 
place. 
Takow, S.W. Formosa, 
30 December, 1865. 
In comparing my Notes already published in ‘ The Ibis * with 
my Journal for 1864 at Tamsuy, I find some jottings, which are 
of more or less importance, omitted in the former; and as I 
make that esteemed periodical the storehouse for my ornitholo¬ 
gical “ ramblings,” I must ask indulgence to have them now 
inserted. 
“ Garrulax pcecilorhynchus, Gould. 1 March, 1864. Bare 
skin between the eye and ear fine French-grey. Legs light 
leaden-grey, with yellowish sole-pads. Claws flesh-colour, grey¬ 
ish on the basal half.” By the way, I see from Bonaparte's ‘ Con¬ 
spectus ' (i. p. 373) and Jerdon's ‘ Birds of India' (ii. p. 66), 
that there is already a Timalia poscilorhyncha, Lafresnaye, which 
has been identified with Layardia subrufa (Jerdon). It will 
perhaps be necessary for Mr. Gould to give our bird some other 
specific name. 
“ Urocissa carulea, Gould. I was very anxious to get a live 
example of the species home to the Zoological Society's Gardens. 
My hunter had nine captured in the hills with a noose-trap. He 
unfortunately boxed them all up together in one basket, and fed 
them on boiled rice. Five were dead before the basket reached 
me. I was having cages made for them, and in the mean time 
left them together. A loud, continued screeching took me 
quickly to the basket. One bird was standing on the top of 
another and hammering him most terribly with his bill. I 
