22 ON BIRDS FROM TEXASSERBI. [186G. 



unknown in India to tho westward of that country ; and we possess no authentic record of its 

 occurrence in Ceylon. Motley and Dillwjn state that this species occurs in Labuau ; but speci- 

 mens have to be compared. 



13. Dictum cruent.\tum (Linn.). 



Certhia cruentata, Linn. S. N. ed. 12, p. 187 (17CC). 



Certhia coccinea. Scop. Del. Fl. et Faun. Insub. pars ii. p. 'Jl. n. fio (1786). 



Nos. 56, 58, 66, 78, cf; 49, 57, 69, $. Moulmein. 



" $ . Bill and legs dark leaden ; irides dark brown. Some black hairs on the head mixed 

 with the scarlet feathers. Has the usual habits of the genus, frequenting higli trees in flower. 

 An especial favourite is a Cathartocarpus (Cassia florida, Vahl) when in flower. The call is a 

 shrill piping, something like the ticking of a loud watch, but of course not regular, and more 

 quickly repeated. It occasionally descends to flowering shrubs in the gardens. Tolerably common 

 about Moulmein, but very difficult to procure, as it is almost impossible to sec it amongst thick 

 foliage without the aid of glasses. The note described above is generally uttered when starting 

 in flight ; another note when at rest may be syllabized tee-tee-tee." 



Dr. Jerdon gives Scopoli's title the precedence ; but that of Linnaeus, founded on Brisson's 

 description of Edwards's plate, is senior. Sonnerat's species, Scopoli's type, was said by tliat 

 traveller to be from China. By Mr. Blyth (J. A. S. B. 1845, p. 558, in note) the Indian species 

 is said to be common at Malacca. Specimens from that peninsula that I have seen slightly differ 

 by being smaller, having a shorter bill, and l)y the black portion of the plumage being deep blue 

 P.Z.S.1866, (rather than deep green) black; the red plumage is also of a richer tone. The complete range 

 01 the species has yet to be detenuined. 



14. Dictum teigoxostigma (Scop.). 



Certhia trigonosfif/ma. Scop. Del. Fl. et Yixun. Insub. pars ii. p. 91. n. 64 (1786). 



No. 54, ?. Moulmein. 



" Upper mandible pinkish brown, and tip of lower the same, graduating to yellow under- 

 neath ; irides dark brown ; legs leaden." In another note the gape is described as orange. 

 Docs not differ from Malaccan specimens of the female. This species has not been found 

 further north than Arakan, and is unknown on the continent to the westward. Mr. Blyth states 

 that it is found in Sumatra. 



15. Pitta cyanoptei?a, Temm. PI. Col. 218. 



Pitta malaccensis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1843, p. 960, nee Scopoli. 



Nos. 13, c?, 14, juv. Korkarit Island, Salween River. 



" Irides dark brown ; skin behind eye leaden ; legs pinkish fleshy ; bill brown-black. 

 Young bird: gape and tip of bill crimson-red; legs flesliy." Arakan, Tenasserim, and ]\Ialayan 

 specimens of the form to which the examples sent belong have hitherto always been regarded 

 by Indian oniithologists as of the same species as the Javan bird wliich furnished Temminck's 

 type. But as yet no actual comparison with Javan specimens appears to have been made, and 



