410 



BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AM) PIloDVCTIOXS. 



l'e"u. Tfiiassorim. 



2. 

 3. 

 4. 

 o. 

 G. 

 7. 



LoKicn.fs vEitXALis, Sparrm. 



Kyai-tliu-cl'i. Aiiikaii. 



This is a forest spi-cics of general distribution. 



[From the total number of birds known to inhabit Burma, the following may 

 have to be deducted. Kanicly : 



1. PiUorneum minor=P. Tickelli. 

 The next seven species may have been confounded with species also cuuracrated : 



Caprimicli/us indicus with C.jotaha. 

 Ci/pscliis ha/axxieiisis with C. irifui/itifns. 

 Stitniia malubarica with <S'. nemoricula. 

 IlrachyuruH iiiegurhijnchm with 11. vwhtccensis. 

 Cnjiitolopha Jiiirlii witli C. frp/irorrp/udus. 

 OrthotuiiiUH edi'Ia w'lWi O.flnn-vin'dis. 



8. 3[(tcrojj;/(/ia riifiaps witli If. ussimilis. 



And the total may have to be still further reduced by three more species, namely : 



9. Sturnia sinensis, its occurrence not restinj; on good evidence. 



10. Ifac/ilo/ophm sidiviridis, apparently M. spHonolus, juv. 



1 1 . Unic/ii/podiits cinereiventris, perhaps a variety only of B. melanocepJuihis. 



The following four species, not separately enumerated, may have to be added ; 



1 . Megalcema virens, in addition to M. MarshaUorum. 



2. Himini-i Hildehrandi, in addition to U.flavala. 



3. Crhiiijir grisiiceps, in addition to C jlaveolus. 



4. Osmotreron remans. 



Further investigations will doubtless nuike known a great many more forms 

 belonging to either Himalayan or Malayan genera.] — Wdlden. 



There arc some grounds for supposing that under favourable circumstances 

 Parrots are among the most long-lived of birds, llumboldt records as a fact (Views 

 of Nature, Bohn's Scientific Library, p. 172) that au old Parrot lived in Maypures, 

 which understood words of the exlinct tribe of the Atures, by whom he had been 

 reared as a nestling, which curious fact (if it be one) is prettily preserved in the 

 following verses by Professor Ernest Curtius, tutor of Prince Frederick Wilhelm of 

 Prussia, now the present venerable Emperor of United Germany. 



Wlierc, through deserts wild and dieary 



Oriuoco dashes on, 

 Sits a I'arrot old and weary. 



Like a sculptured thing of stone. 



Through its rocky han'iers flowing, 

 Onward rolls the toaming stream ; 



'Waving i)alni3 on liigli are glowing 

 lu the sun's nieriilian beam. 



Ceaselessly the -waves are heaving. 



Sparkling up in antic play ; 

 While the sunny rays are weaving 



Kainhows in the feathery spray. 



TNTiere yon hillows wild are breaking 



Sleeps a tribe lor evermore. 

 Who, their native land forsaking, 



Kefuge sought on this lone shore. 



As thev lived, free, dauntless ever, 

 So tlio brave Aturians died ; 



And the green banks of the river 

 All their mortal relics hide. 



Yet the Parrot, ne'er forgetting 



Those who loved him, mourns them still ; 

 On the stone his sharp beak whetting. 



While the air, his waitings fill. 



Where are now the youths wlio bred liini, 

 To pronounce their mother tongue ; 



Where the gentle maids who fed him 

 And who built his nest when young ? 



All, alas ! are lifeless l)ing. 



Stretched upon their grassy bed ; 



Nor can all his mournful crying 

 E'er awake the slumbering dead. 



Still he calls with voice imploring 

 To a world that heeds him not ; 



Nought replies but waters roaring ; 

 No kind soul bewails his lot. 



Swift the savage turns his rndd(>r, 

 When his eyes the bird behold ; 



None e'er saw without a shudder 

 That Atiu-ian I'arrot old ! 



