ORXITIIOLOGV. 307 



Those who consiiler a liltlc more or loss colour lioro or there, or oven slight 

 difference of size, constitutes a species, can separate the uhove birds ; but the moie 

 natural mctliod is to regard each as a local race of one species, the first described, of 

 course taking precedence. 



The next birds are the laughinp; thruslics, -n-liich form so prominent a feature in 

 the liurmeso jungle. They are moderate-sized birds, of rather plain plumage, and 

 gregarious, noisy and amusing. 



G.VRnuL.vx LEUCOLOPUcs, Hardwickc. AraUan. 



G. Belangem, Lcp. i't'gu. Tenasscrim. 



Da\-i.son describes this species as going about in flocks of from 10 to 30, and 

 almost always in company with O. momliyer and Chincnsis, Cissa speciosa and sundry 

 cli'ongas, woodpeckers, etc. On the slightest alarm tliey all fly up into the trees and 

 commence calling vociferously, one taking the lead and the others following in rapid 

 succession. This continues for several minutes, then there is a pause, and absolute 

 silence ensues. Then they start again, then pause, and so on. Once having 

 disturbed them, or roused their suspicions as to one's character and intentions, it is 

 difticult to get rid of them, as they follow one about tlirougli the forest, making a 

 most liideous row all the time, and of course disturbing every living thing. Dogs 

 especially seem to attract their notice, and they go on vituperating them from all the 

 surrounding trees evcai more energetically than they do the sportsmap. They have 

 anotlicr queer habit. Small parties of them, 3, 4 or .5, will get on to an open space 

 and begin to dance, sjireading their tails, lowering their wings and threading in and 

 out among themselves as tliough dancing a minuet, wliilst all the rest of the flock 

 watches the proceedings, with intense interest, from every branch and ap|dauds in the 

 jolliest and heartiest fashion. Their note is ,a loud laughing chuckle, which they 

 delight in uttering spontaneously on the slightest provocation (S.F. vi. p. 287). 



G. STKEriT.vxs, Tickell. Tenasscrim Hills and Mooleyit above 



3.300 feet. 



This species re.sembles the last in voice and habits, but is very shy, and instead 

 of following a stranger about, at once beats a rapid retreat. If the sportsman, however, 

 sits quietly, and sends a dog forward, their curiosity and anger combined will tempt 

 them back into shot range. They will follow the dog back, peering down at him 

 from the trees and jeering at him in an uproarious fashion (Davison). 



G. CnixENsis, Scop. Martaban. Tenasscriin. 



G. ALDOGULARis, Gould. Tavoy, fide Blyth. (Hume never got it.) 



G. MoxixiGER, Hodg. Arakan. Tenasscrim. 



This is common and very like the next species, but smaller and less robust. 



G. PECTORALis, Gould. Arakan. Karen-ni. Tenasscrim. 



Davison only shot one specimen, so it must be rare to the south. It was shot 

 out of a mixed flock of Belangeri and moniUgcr, among which it was conspicuous 

 for its size. Blyth remarks that in Arakan specimens, the pectoral band is sometimes 

 wanting, and the ear coverts are darker. Mr. Hume draws attention to the curious 

 fact that this is as it were a large edition of the last ; yet the two races, as we might 

 call them, occupy the same area to a great extent, and without any intermediate 

 connecting links. 



Tkochaloptekon melanostigma, Blyth. Karen-ni. Tenasscrim Hills. 



Mooleyit, above 3000 feet. 



AcrrNODURA Eamsati, Walden. Karon-ni at 3000 feet. 



SiDiA melanoleuca, Blyth. Mooleyit and Tenasscrim Hills above 3000 feet. 



S. I'iCAOiDES, Hodg. Karen-ni and Tenasscrim above 3000 feet. 



• The three next birds belong to a familiar group called by the natives ' seven 

 brothers,' tlie family number, or by Europeans 'rat birds,' from their resemblance 

 when running to a rat. Their plumage is untidy and dull-ccdoured, and tlieir favourite 

 mode of progression is by hopping. They build moderately neat nests and lay four 

 blue eggs. 



