8 BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 



hunting over a field or clearing ; they remain seated on some 

 old stump or fence, from whence they keep a look out, securing 

 their prey by a short, sharp dash, and whether secured or 

 missed, they continue their flight only a short distance and 

 perch again, never, that I am aware, returning to the same 

 perch they started from. 



As a rule, they seem to prefer clearing's, studded over with 

 dead trees and old stumps, and the bamboos overhanging 

 the Pakchan were also favorite perches for these birds (as in- 

 deed they seemed to be for numerous other birds that take 

 their prey on the wing, such as Dendrochelidon longipennis, D. 

 cornatus, Merops viridis, and M. leschenaulti, fye.), but I have 

 occasionally seen them in dense forest, and on one occasion 

 shot one about 30 miles from Malacca in such a situation. 



They have a sharp note, to which they often give utterance 

 when seated. 



Perhaps they prefer the well -wooded banks of rivers and 

 creeks to any other locality. — "W. D.] 



The following are dimensions, &c, recorded in the flesh : — 



Males.— Length, 120 to 1275 ; expanse, 240 to 26-0; tail 

 from vent, 5*9 to 6*62 ; wing, 73 to 8*12 ; tarsus, 1-9 to 2'0 > bill 

 from gape, 08 to 0-85; weight, 5-0 to 65 ozs. 



Females.— Length, 13*9 to 14-62 ; expanse, 26*75 to 28*37; tail 

 from vent, 6*7 to 7*37 ; wing, 83 to 9*0 ; tarsus, 1-8 to 2'05 • 

 bill from gape, 09 to TO- weight, 8*0 to 9*0 ozs. 



Legs and feet are gamboge yellow ; claws black ; base of 

 upper mandible and lower mandible, except tips, plumbeous ; 

 rest of bill black ; cere and gape greenish yellow, or pale green ; 

 the irides varied considerably, bright golden yellow, orange 

 yellow, orange red, blood red, and lake; the eyelids pale 

 green. 



23 ter, — Astur soloensis, Eorsf. (1). 



Malewoon, Mergui district. 



A rare straggler to the southernmost portions of the 

 province. 



Our only specimen was killed by Mr. A. L. Hough. This is 

 a male, not adult, but distinguished at once by its pure 

 unmarked pale buff wing-lining and buffy white axillaries. 

 Our specimen measured in the flesh : — 



Length, 11 ; expanse, 2375 ; tail from vent, 5"0 ; wing, 7'5 ; 

 tarsus, 1*62 ; bill from gape, 075. 



The legs and feet bright orange; claws black; cere and nos- 

 trils orauge ; gonys and base of upper mandible plumbeous ; 

 rest of bill black ; irides bright yellow. 



The upper part of the head is deep slaty brown ; the whole 

 mantle brown ; the feathers narrowly tipped with reddish buff; 



