( 34 ) 

 THE EASTERN BLUE ROCK-THRUSH- 



The blue rock-thrush is a migratory bird, spending the cold weather 

 with us ; it is a very silent inquisitive bird, generally to be seen 

 haunting dak-bungalows and hpoong) i-kyaungs up-country, and has 

 an uncanny way of suddenly appearing under the roof of a bungalow, 

 taking one look round, and then disappearing again as quietly as 

 it came. Its whole upper plumage and breast is slaty blue, each 

 feather being minutely tipped with black and white ; under parts 

 paler. It retires for the breeding se .son to China and Japan. 



(No. 692. Petrophila solitaria.) 



THE BURMESE WHISTLING-THRUSH. 



This is a true thrush, but is sometimes placed amongst the 

 babblers, as its young have not the usual mottled plumage. And 

 first siwht he reminds one of the black bird at home with what 

 looks like his black plumage and bright yellow bill, but on close 

 examination one sees that it is a beautiful dark blue, each feather 

 being tipped with a brighter blue. He is also much larger than the 

 home blackbird, being about thirteen-and-a-half inches in length. 

 They are found near all rocky hill-streams and have loud whistling 

 notes. Either this or the Himalayan bird, is found distributed in 

 suitable localities over the whole Province. 



(No. 188. Myophoneus eugenii.) 



XIV 



THE FINCHES. 



The Finches are a large family of familiar northern birds which, 

 with the exception of the sparrows are almo.^t entirely absent from 

 Burma. 



THE COMMON SPARROW. 



The Common Sparrow is not such a common bird as one would 

 expsct; for our pest out here is not this species, as in England ; but 

 the Tre. '-sparrow. They are practically the same as the European 

 bird, the cock and hen differing in plumdCjG and requiring no 

 description. 



In Burma this s|)ecie3 is very local, generally confining itself to 

 towns, biing plentiful in som^ places, and entirely absent in others. 



Burmese name — Sa. 



(No. 776. Passer domeslicus.) 



