Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 399 
In penetrating into the mountain-forests we had no road to 
follow except what nature afforded in the nearly dry beds of tor¬ 
rents. We ascended one of these with high magnificent wood 
on either side. The contracted stream eddied and gurgled in 
rapid course over the rounded shingle, now and then expanding 
into small shallow tranquil pools, abounding in little spotted, 
striped Trout-like fish, or leaped with a roar and scattering of spray 
from some abruptly precipitous rock in the form of a cascade. 
The coolness of the shade by the side of the stream was delicious 
after our toilsome walk in the hot sun ; and the glimpses of the 
distance we caught occasionally through gaps in the jungle were 
truly enchanting. Butterflies, that are scarcely ever seen at this 
season (February), at Takow by the sea, were sporting in num¬ 
bers about the boulder-masses in the stream, and birds innume¬ 
rable were whistling in the trees. Verily this was the paradise 
of nature in Formosa. The sweet little crimson Pericrocotus 
griseogularis, with its crocus-tinted mate, was busy among the 
tall branches; and on the tops of the tall trees the Chaptia 
hrauniana sat perched, Drongo-like, uttering loud musical notes, 
and chasing each other with screams and undulating flight from 
tree to tree. Its ordinary notes may be syllabled “ heeah muncha 
muncha.” This is quite a bird of the high mountain-forests. I 
did not once see it in the plains, where Dicrurus macrocercus 
takes its place. The Chinese of the interior call the Chaptia 
the “ Swa-na aw-tsew,” or Drongo of the mountains. The lead- 
coloured Redstart Ruticilla fuliginosa with its unique speckled 
mate was occasionally seen sitting, either sex on a different rock 
in the stream, or whistling and chasing one another along its 
course. They shake the tail like the typical Redstarts, though 
Dr. Jerdon says they do not (Birds of India, vol. ii. p. 143),but 
have also a frequent habit of expanding it. 
On a tree on the side of a hill on the opposite side of the 
stream I saw a Buzzard-like bird sitting. I walked up to what 
I considered within range and fired a cartridge at it. It rose, 
and to my astonishment I saw it was a Spilornis hoya 3 mihi 
\T [antea , p. 304]. It took a circle and then flew over my head. 
I fired my loose charge, but without effect. The transparency 
of the mountain air had led me to mistake the distance; and 
