Swinhoe, Robert. “Further corrections and additions to the ‘Ornithology of Amoy,’ with some remarks on the birds of Formosa,” The Ibis 2 (1860): 357-361.
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[6 June 2021 updated]
(A List of Taiwan-related Works by Robert Swinhoe is available here.)
XLV.- Further Corrections and Additions to the “Ornithology
of Amoy,” with some Remarks on the Birds of Formosa. By ROBERT SWINHOE, of
H. M. Consular Service*.
A FEW necessary corrections having again suggested
themselves on reperusing my article on the “Ornithology of Amoy,” as printed in
the 5th Number of ‘The Ibis,’ I hasten to communicate them to you, that they
may appear before the public as soon a possib1e.
Arundinax canturians, sp. 32, and A. miniatus (nec minutus), sp.
33, should be again compared with Salicaria cantans and S. cantillans
of the ‘Fauna Japonica’ before they can be considered as good species. They
belong more correctly, I think, to the genu Lusciniopsis.
Thamnobia niveiventris, mihi, sp. 44, is no Thamnobia at all. I cannot
understand how I came to be so mistaken. The description given is that of a
female bird, which Mr. Blyth considers to be referable to Erythrosterna
leucura (Gmel.) of Bengal. All the specimen we procured were females and
immature birds until lately, when M. Schlegel shot a male. The extent of red on
the lower part of this individual prove the specie to be Erythrosterna mugimaki
of the ‘Fauna Japonica’ rather than the Indian bird.
Motacilla lugens (v. lugubris), mentioned in the ‘Fauna Japonica’ has
also been shot here after stormy weather, and should be inserted after M.
luzoniensis.
* Communicated in a letter from Mr. Swinhoe to the Editor.
[p. 358]
Sp. 57. For ‘Turdus advena,’ mentioned here, read ‘Turdus
daulias,’ to which species the name refers.
Of the other Thrushes alluded to, I have succeeded in
identifying Turdus (Merula) cardis of the ‘Fauna Japonica.’ This bird occurs
here abundantly, in both its thrush-like and blackbird-like plumages, with the
intermediate grades, and presents a happy link between the two subdivision of
the genus Turdus.
Sp. 61, Garrulax rugillatus, nobis, is undoubtedly
Garrulax perspicillatus (Gmelin).
We have since shot in the island G. canorus (Latham),
the “Chinese Song Thrush,” or Hwa-mei (“pictured eyebrow”).
Sp. 64, Pycnonotus haemorrhous, is “Le Gobe-mouche
à tête noire de la Chine” of Sonnerat; Muscicapa atricapilla, Vieillot; but,
unfortunately, there is another bird of the same genus (the Ægithina
atricapilla, Vieillot) from Ceylon bearing the same specific name: which
has the priority?*
Sp. 87, Munia molucca. I find, from ‘Shaw’s
Zoology,’ that this species is Munia minima (Lath.), M. molucca being
synonymous with M. rubro-nigra.
Sp. 106, Coturnix chinensis. This is Coturnix
dactylisonans. C. chinensis is not found in this neighbourhood.
Sp. 115. For Herodias asha substitute Butorides
javanicus (Horsf.), of which species several examples have been met with lately.
Sp. 120, Nycticorax manillensis, should be
probably N. griseus. N. manillensis, of which I saw an example the other
day in a private cabinet at Hong Kong, is a very different species.
Since the above was written, the following additional
species have been met with at Amoy :—
1. A LOCUSTELLA with rigid tibial tendons; probably L.
rubescens, Blyth; certainly not L. raii.
* The Ceylonese bird appears to have been termed Ægithina
atricapilla by Vieillot, in the 1st volume of the Nouv. Diet. d. Sciences Nat.
(p. 76); the Chinese bird, Muscicapa atricapilla, in the 21st volume of
the same work (p. 489, and Enc. Méth. p. 822). The earliest synonym of the
latter which we can use seem to be chysorrhoides (Lafr.) (Hæmatornis
chrysorrhoides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 367), and the species should
probably stand as Pycnonotus chrysorrhoides. —ED.
[p. 359]
2. EUSPIZA SULPHURATA of the ‘Fauna Japonica.’
3. GALLINAGO, sp.?
A large Snipe, closely allied to G. major.
4. TOTANUS PULVERULENTUS.
5. TRINGA, sp.?
A small Tringa, smallet even than T.
temminckii.
6. TRINGA MINUTA, Linn .
7. LARVIVORA CYANEA, Hodgson?
8. MICRONISUS BADIUS (Gmelin).
9. CHARADRIUS VIRGINICUS.
10. LOBIVANELLUS INORNATUS of the ‘Fauna Japonica.’
11. CENTROPUS, sp.?
A mall species, first procured from Formosa.
12. CIRCUS, sp.?
A large white, black, and grey species, which I have also
seen from Manilla. I took this to be the male of the bird marked C. æruginosus
in my list. Mr. Blyth identified this latter bird; but as all my examples
are females, and I have seen it often in company with the grey bird, I naturally
supposed the two to be male and female. Every one knows the difficulty of
determining the various species of the genus Circus; the comparison of
dried skin is not always sufficient; the birds require to be seen in a fresh state.
However, I am by no means fully convinced yet of the identity.
13. CALIDRIS ARENARIA (Linn.).
14. STREPSILAS INTERPRES, Linn.
So much for the birds of Amoy. Now for a few words on the
birds of Formosa, concerning which the editor of ‘The Ibis’ expresses a wish to
be informed. Such a task is of course beyond my capability, a I know little
more than the coast of that island. It is true, we performed an inland journey
of some forty miles, but the commander of H.M.S. ‘Inflexible’ ran over the ground
so hurriedly, that neither the Kew botanist, Mr.
[p. 360]
Wilford, nor myself had much time to extend our
researches. The immense forests of Camphor-trees that cover the gigantic snow-capped
mountains are no doubt productive of numerous species unknown to science; but
until the right of travelling is established in China, exploration of such wild
fastnesses will be impossible; and even were Chinese Formosa open to Europeans,
an attempt to ascend these lovely heights would always be attended with danger,
owing to the extreme savageness of the aboriginal tribes. With the exception of
the S.W. portion, where birds are abundant, especially Orioles and Drongos, the
coast, though green and well-wooded, is comparatively destitute of feathered
denizens.
I have no doubt, from the glance I had at the birds of
Formosa, that most of our Amoy forms are found in the island. Indeed, I have received
examples of most of them from there. The few species that I procured in our last
trip in the ‘Inflexible’ which were new to me I described at Shanghai, in the
Journal of the N.C.B. of the Asiatic Society*.
The first bird therein described, Calamanthella
tintinnabulans, is, without doubt, the Cisticola brunneiceps of the ‘Fauna
Japonica,’ which again is perhaps only a local variety of the European species.
C. volitans is a good
species.
Prinia striata I should be more inclined now, I think, to call a Drymoica.
It is much longer than the ordinary Priniæ, and has a remarkab1y long
tail.
The Dipper is most likely Cinclus pallasii, as I
see this last quoted as occurring in Japan.
Garrulax taewanus and Pomatorhinus musicus are both good species.
Centropus dimidiatus (?) (“the Woodman “) I have since found as a stragg1er
at Amoy, and as a resident at Hong Kong. I am sending you specimens for
examination.
Anoüs pileatus requires comparison with A. stolidus.
In my “Narrative of a Visit to Formosa,” a few wrong
names of birds had crept in, and I see that they have been inserted in your
remarks (anteà, p. 89). Allow me therefore to correct
* See our reference to this article anteà, p. l86.
--ED.
[p. 361]
Alauda minuta and Dicrurus malabaricus, which ought to stand A. cœlivox and D. macrocercus.
I cannot believe in the existence of a Parrot in Formosa.
None occur in China, unless in the provinces of Se-tchuen and Quangsi. Indeed,
the island of Hainan, which produces a Gracula, most probably identical
with the Javanese species, is not known to contain a Parrot. The Vulture too,
which has been said to be from Canton, must have been brought there from the extreme
south somewhere. Certainly in the neighbourhood of that city none occur*.
* The most Eastern locality for a Vulture which we yet
know of for certain is Siam, whence M. Mouhot has forwarded Gyps
indicus. There are specimens of a Parrot in the British Museum (Loriculus
puniculus) labelled as having been obtained in China by Mr. Fortune.—ED.
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