BIRDS OF TENASSERIM-. 17 



pairs are always to be heard about the Pakchan. I say heard, 

 because this species has a very widely resounding weird un- 

 earthly cry, which often attracts attention when the bird is 

 high up oat of sight or effectually concealed. 



They sit on trees overhanging the water, or very often on 

 fishing stakes in the middle of the water, watching for fish, 

 which seems their chief food. I have never seen them strike 

 at fowl as leucoryphus, I am told, does. — W. D.] 



41 ter. — Haliaetus huniilis, Mull. & SchL Descr. 

 S. E., V., 129. 



This species, I have good reason to believe, occurs on the 

 coast of Tenasserim, though we have hitherto always failed to 

 secure a specimen. 



42.--Haliaetus leucoryphus, Fall. (2). 



Thatone. 



A magnificent adult male and a young female were shot at 

 Thatone. They were both shot inland near a large jheel. 



Though only two specimens were preserved this species is not 

 uncommon in the western plains portion of Northern Tenas- 

 serim. Davison found it on the Thatone Creek and up the 

 Sittang from the Wau Choung to the town of Sittang. 



43.— Haliaetus leucogaster, Gm. (3). 



Eight miles south of Mergui; Malewoon. 



Sparingly distributed along the entire coast. 



[ This bird, though not rare, is yet not common. It is 

 found everywhere along and near the coast in Tenasserim, 

 but never except singly or in pairs, more frequently I think 

 in pairs. I have seen it going up the Rangoon River as well as 

 off Moulmein, and in many places along the coast. A pair used 

 to frequent the harbour at Mergui, and many a weary hour 

 have I spent in futile attempts to circumvent them. 



Early in the morning as the fishing boats came in, accom- 

 panied by sundry Sterna bergii, Gelochelidon anglica and some- 

 times a specimen or two of Xema bruneicephala, these two eagles 

 would swoop down from the neighbouring island of Patoe, 

 where they were accustomed to spend the night, and commence 

 slowly sailing round the canoes, keeping a sharp look-out for 

 any refuse fish that might happen to be thrown overboard 

 chasing one another, or some fortunate Tern that had secured 

 a fish, and compelling it to relinquish its booty, keeping up 

 the whole time their harsh duck-like quack. Then when the 

 fish had all been carried off to market, and the fishermen had 

 betaken themselves home, when the last piece of offal had 



3 



