107 



A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE BHAMO DISTRICT, 



UPPER BURMA. 



BY 



Mator H. H. Harington (92nd Punjabis). 



The Bhtuno District of Uppsr Burma lies roucrhly between the 

 twenty-fourth iinJ twenty-fifth dftgrees of latitude, and is bounded on 

 the East by China, and contains a great variety of country consist- 

 infT of the Irrawaddy Valley, low-lying hills, and on the East a 

 series of ridges running up to 6 000 feet. 



The country to the West of the river, very broken and covered 

 witli dense forest, is practically unexplore 1. On the E.ist the plains 

 near the river :ire mora or less cultivated, the groun I gradually 

 rising into a terai of heavy tree jungle. From this, the hills rise 

 abruptly, range behind range, to the borders of Chinn. On their 

 western slopes they are covered with dense evergreen jungle, which, 

 towards their summit, have at some time or other been clearel for 

 cultivation (toungyas) so giving rise to a thick secondary growth, now 

 very difficult to penetrate. On the eastern slopes where the rainfall is 

 not so great, the oak and chestnut flourish. The hills suddenly drop 

 into the Loije Valley, tlirough which runs the Chiness frontier — the 

 country being almost devoid of trees and covered with bracken and 

 brambles. 



Tne District is consequently very rich in bird life, and must still 

 contain a number of rich prizes, as many of the higher hills have yofc 

 to be explored. 



I have compiled this very incomplete list from birds collected by 

 myself during a short stay in these hills, as well as from a list kindly 

 given me by C.>lonel G. Rippon, I, A , and from the list of Mr. E. W. 

 Gates in the Ibis of 1888 and of Count Siilvadorl in the •* Annali del 

 Museo civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa/' Vol. IV, Second Series, 

 pages 568 to G17. 



I spent a very pleasant and profitable two months of my bave 

 collecting in the hills due East of Bhamo, one month being spent at 

 Sinlum- Kaba a small hill station of about 5 500 feet al)Ove sea level. 

 I was fortunate in getting many birds not previously recorded withia 

 Indian limits, as well as four new Sub-species, besides many rare 

 and interesting eggs. 



