BIRDS OF TENASSEKIM. 7 



22 bis. — Lophospiza rufitinctus, McClell. (2). Descr., 



S. F., V., pp. 8, 124, 502. 



North of Pahpoon, Salween district 5 Bankasoon. 



Extremely rare, only seen twice and then in the hills, once 

 at the extreme south and once near the northern limits of 

 Tenasserim proper. 



'1 he following are the dimensions and colors of the soft parts 

 of a fine female recorded in the flesh : — 



Length, 18 ; expanse, 335 ; tail from vent, 8*75 ; wing, 99 ; 

 tarsus, 2'9 ; weight, life. 



The legs and feet dull chrome yellow ; claws horny black ; 

 bill horny brown ; lower mandible tinged bluish at base and 

 sides ; cere dull greenish yellow ; irides bright yellow. 



23. — Astur badius, Gm. 



This species may occur in Arracan. It has been recorded 

 from Tenasserim, but doubtless the next species, which had 

 not then been discriminated, was what was really obtained. 



23 Ms. — Astur poliopsis, Hume. (22.) Descr., S. P., 



II., 325. 



(Tonghoo ; Karen Hills, 4,000/2., Earns.) Pahpoon ; Sinzaway ; near Khy- 

 keto ; Thatone ; Wimpong ; Thoungya Sakan ; Kanee ; Megaloon ; Khayin ; 

 Mouloiein ; Pabyouk ; Amherst ; Pakchan. 



Common throughout the province, but not ascending the 

 hills above 4,500 feet. 



[The Grey-faced Shikra occurs throughout Tenasserim, but 

 is nowhere very common. In the north it was perhaps rarer 

 than in the south, and during January and February it was 

 not uncommon along the banks of the higher portion of the 

 Pakchan. On all occasions, both in the north and south, I 

 found these birds excessively shy, seldom allowing of even a 

 moderately near approach, which accounts for my procuring 

 only twenty-two specimens in all out of the great numbers 

 I have seen. 



Although, as above observed, I found them not uncommon 

 in January and February along the Pakchan, yet in May, 

 when the rains had set in, I failed to notice a single specimen 

 in passing along the same route ; they had all probably migrated 

 to some drier region. 



The food of this species, as far as my observations extend, 

 consists entirely of insects and small reptiles. I have observed 

 them dash at insects on the wing, and I have frequently seen 

 them descend to the ground to pick up something. As a 

 rule, they seem averse to long flights : I have never seen them 



