444) Capt. R. C. Beavan un various Indian Birds. 



Plentiful in the neighbourhood of Barrackpore, but not very 

 common in Maunbhoom. 



476. CiTTociNCLA MACRUKA. Shama. 



At Maunbhoom, March 6th, 1865, I made my first acquaint- 

 ance with this famous songster. I was out after bears and deer 

 in some ground very jungly and full of ravines, near Pathur- 

 kutta, when I heard several in different directions singing against 

 each other. They were very shy, and would not allow me to 

 approach within shot ; so I sat down patiently, and, keeping quiet, 

 looked out for chances. Soon two, evidently males, had a 

 tremendous squabble in a thick creeper-covered tree close by. 

 The one that was defeated flew off, pursued a short distance by 

 the victor, who then returned to his perch and poured forth the 

 most delicious melody in the way of a bird's song that I have 

 ever heard. His appearance during this song of triumph was 

 worth seeing — seated on a spray with his tail cocked up and 

 spread out like a fan ; the attitude was perfect, until the report 

 of my gun frightened him away. I fancy the display I witnessed 

 was on account of the approaching pairing-season. They are 

 said to breed in that district in April and May ; and the natives 

 yearly make a few rupees by the sale of young birds brought 

 up from the nest, which, even in the nearest bazars, fetch from 

 five to six rupees a piece. In Calcutta a good song-bird cannot, 

 I understand, be procured for less than ten or twelve. 



Dimensions of a specimen in the flesh : — Length 10*25 ; wing 

 3"75j tail barely 6. The middle tail-feathers and the next pair 

 to them are devoid of any white, which is conspicuously displayed 

 in the rest. Legs and claws pale fleshy. 



The species appears much more common in Burmab, frequent- 

 ing gardens about Moulmein; but I never heard a wild bird 

 there sing so sweetly as the one mentioned above. 



477. Myiomela leucura. White-tailed Blue Chat. 

 Darjeeling collection, 1862. Two specimens. 



480. Thamnobia CAMBAiENSis. Browu-backed Indian llobin. 



Observed about Umballah in the North-west Provinces. This 

 bird (the " Suya " of the Bowries) is found in great abundance in 

 the Maunbhoom district, but more especially so in the breeding- 



