660 MR. H. J. ELWES ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL [June 1 7, 



have just noticed as being so abundant in the upper and middle 

 region of Sikim. The Mishmi hills in particular will well reward 

 exploration. Through the agency of its savage inhabitants, one of 

 the most curious animals in the world, Budorcas taxicolor, as well 

 as two splendid Pheasants, Lophophorus sclateri and Ceriornis 

 blythii, have already been brought to light ; and the numerous dis- 

 coveries of the Abbe David to the north-east show how much re- 

 mains to be done in this direction. Of the Khasia and Cachar hills 

 we have a fair knowledge, Major Godwin- Austen having published, in 

 the J. A. S. B. for 1870, two excellent papers on their ornithology. 



They show but little difference from the hills of corresponding 

 elevation in Sikim, though a few genera, such as Turdinus, 

 Rhyticeros, and Anthreptes, which are not found in the Himalaya, 

 occur here. 



The number of Asamese species not found in Sikim is only 16, of 

 which half are Burmese birds. 



BURMAH. 



Passing by the Lushai hills, which, though traversed by a large 

 force of troops in 1871, are still quite unknown to naturalists, we 

 come to Burmah, Aracan, and Tennasserim. Of the countries 

 lying east of the Bay of Bengal I should have been able to say but 

 little had it not been for the kindness of Mr. Blyth, whose know- 

 ledge of their natural history is unequalled. 



He has, however, allowed me to make use of a list of birds which 

 was prepared for Sir A. Phayre's promised work on British Burmah, 

 and which consolidates and reviews all the scattered notices which 

 have appeared at different times in the pages of the J. A. S. B. and 

 other publications. 



This list extends to above 500 species ; and as the country to 

 which it refers is too large to be taken as a whole, I have divided it 

 into two parts, with the view of ascertaining what relation they bear 

 respectively to India and the Malay peninsula. 



The northern division, which includes Aracan, Pegu, and valley 

 of the Irrawaddy, has been fairly explored — Tickell, Blyth, Blanford 

 and Jerdon being the names best known in connexion with its orni- 

 thology. 



Much remains to be done in the hills of the interior, where many 

 additional Himalayan species may probably be found, though a 

 great number of them have already been obtained in various parts 

 of the country. On the whole, the fauna of Burmah is remarkably 

 similar to that of Eastern Bengal, nearly all the genera being the 

 same, and many of the species which have been described under 

 different names being extremely close to their Indian representatives. 



In the valley of the Irrawaddy above Pegu the country becomes 

 much dryer and less wooded ; and here, as was pointed out by 

 Mr. Blanford (Ibis, 1870, p. 463), are found several peculiar species 

 and others which do not occur in Lower Burmah. Among them 

 may be mentioned Chatarrhoea gularis, Pericrocotus albifrons, Leu- 

 cocerca albofrontata, Pica media, Monticola saxatilis, Pratincola 



