220

EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.

2. ORDER INSESSORES. —The Perching Birds .

HETERORNI8 PYRRIIOGEN1 T S, Tcmminck.

Lamprotornis pyrriiogenys, Temm. et Schleg. Faun. Jap,, p. 86, (1850 )

Teram. and Schleg. Faun. Jap. Aves, pi. 46.

Numerous specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, this species having been found inabundance in the neighborhood of Hakodadi, in the month of May (1854 )

It would to almost impossible to describe all the varieties in the’ distribution of the eolors ottins handsome bird in the specimens before us, though evidently indicating difference of ageand sea, and always presenting sufficient similarity to he recognized without difficulty as thesame spec.cs The adult males are very nearly as given in the plate in Fauna Japonic., abovectcd. Head above white, back and shoulder fine metallic violet, wing, and tail dark metafilegreen, ear, and sides of the neck bright chestnut, breast and sides cinereous, abdomen white;throat, rump, and under tail covert, dull ferrugincous. In all the more adult specimens, thethroat is very near y the same color as the rump, and more tinged with ferrugineou, than inTemminck and Sclilegel s plate. This ferrugineou, i, rather a remarkable color in this bird,and has an appearance almost like a white linen or muslin tinged with an oxide of iron, or ironmoulded.

In younger males, all the above color, are much less distinct, and the bright chestnut of thecheeks scarcely perceptible. In females, this character is entirely wanting, and the entire upperplumage is dull brownish cinereous. “Eye light yellow ”

We find the following note on this bird, by Mr. Heine, in hi, manuscript now before us:

■‘These beautiful and interesting bird, abound near Hakodadi. In the garden, and woodssurrounding the dwellings of farmer, and fishermen, they are a, abundant a, sparrow, in thiscountry. They fly sometime, in pairs, but generally in larger numbers, with a short, jerkingmotion. When alighted, they appear to be always „n the move, hopping and flying about fromone place to another, and sometime, in a very eccentric and harleguin-Iike manner, which,indeed, i, the character of their manners generally. Any uncommon noise attract, their atten-tion very quickly, and when I killed one of them, the report of the gun brought many others tothe spot.

“The beautiful variegated plumage of these birds, which, in a bright sunshine, showed togreat advantage, and their many and curious attitudes, made them a most pleasing sight, and Ihave frequently, when sitting under the shade of a tree, watched them with the greatest interestand pleasure.”

STURNUS CINEltACEUS, Temminck .

Sturnus cineraceus, Temm. pi. col. II, liv. 94.

Temm. and Schleg. Taun. Jap. Aves, pi. 45; Temm. pi. col. 656.

A single specimen from Hakodadi, where it was obtained in May, 1854 Though an easilyrecognized species, and in the present specimen presenting all the characters well marked, thecolors are lighter than as represented in the plate of Fauna Japonica, above cited, and verymuch like that in Planches Coloriees. “Eyes light yellow.”

EMBERIZA Ciorsis, Bonaparte.

Emberiza ciopsis, Bonap. Consp. Av., p. 466, (1850.)

Emberiza cioides, Temm. and Sclileg., Faun. Jap., p. 98, (1850, not of Brandt.)