THE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. 1§3 



all seasons, liorii-coloiir : lower niiuulible yellowish ; whole bill of male, 

 ill summer, dark horii-coloar, except base of lower mandible which is 

 palei-. Legs pi'ikish to diiskj- flesh-colour ; claws horn-colour. 



Ilahits, cC'f. ^ ery similar to those of the last species, except 

 that the nests are built in high grass, as well as on trees. In both 

 cases a situation in close proximity to water appears to be almost 

 invariably selected, and when placed in grass the nests are suspended 

 from tlie extremities of a number of blades drawn together. Compared 

 with those of 7*. incijarhijnKhus, the nests of this species are very short, 

 being only about 228 mm. (8 in.) in total length, against as much as 

 838 mm. (33 in.), for the former : they are, therefore, much less con- 

 spicuous, even when placed in trees, which is, 1 think, the exception. 



• 17 (72ij). Mania atricapilla (\'ieill.). The Chesinut- 

 I id I it'll Miinia. 



Mmiiii iitiiiiijiillti ndiiiiiiii/i-ti, Gyldeilstol[>c I'.UO. p. '27. 



Description. Length about 114 mm. (4.5 in.). Whole head, 

 neck and upper breast black ; remainder of plumage chestnut, brighter 

 and deeper on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and inclined to blackish 

 on the middle of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts. 



L-is dark brown. Bill leaden blue. Legs dark plumbeous. 



DislrilnUion. ISo far, apart from Bangkok, in Central Siam, 

 this bird has only been recorded from the Northern portion of the 

 Kingdom, but I have obtained it from Bangnnra, in the extreme south 

 of the Peninsular division of this countrj'. As to its occurrence in 

 Bangkok, it may be noted that in 1915 I added this bird to the 

 list of local species (Joiirn. N. II. 8. Siam I, p. 108 ), on the 

 strength of information furnished by Mr. E. G. Herbert, who stated 

 that he had seen it more than once in his compound on the west side 

 of the river, and had shot it on Klong Dakhanong, a little further 

 south. The fact may also be mentioned that Flower (Ihis 1898, 

 p. 323 ) has recorded that he once saw a bird in his garden in 

 Bangkok, which he believes was of this species. As, however, the 

 Chestnut-bellied Munia is common in the bird-shops here, it is 

 possible that the specimens observed at large may have been escapes 

 from captivity. Personally, I have not come across the bird, nor have 

 my collectors obtained it, in this locality. 



VOL. II, MAY I'Jir. 



