BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 73 



Unlike C. affinis, it avoids the open or sparsely-wooded por- 

 tions of the country, being (so far as I have observed) found 

 only in the evergreen forests, and their immediate vicinity. 

 The most northerly place at which I observed it was on the 

 island of Mergui. Here I noticed a few in the forest 

 towards the north-east end of the island ; further south I ob- 

 tained it at different places, as at Bopyin, Choungthanoung, 

 &c, and at Bankasoon I found it common; it extends much 

 further south, as I observed it at Malacca and Johore — W.D.] 



127 bis.— Pelargopsis burmanica, Sharpe. (50). Descr. 

 S. F., II., 165. 



CKarennee, Rams.) Kyouk-nyat. ; Pnlipoon ; Younzaleen Creek ; galween R. ; 

 Khjketo ; Thatone ; Wimpoug ; Kanee ; Ko-go-Houngthraw ; Moulrnein ; 

 Moumenzeik ; Pabyouk ; Karope ; Amherst; Yea ; Tavoy ; Mergui; Pakchan ; 

 Bankasoon. 



Common throughout the province, but not ascending the 

 hills to any considerable elevation. 



[This species is sometimes found about the mouths of tidal 

 creeks or along the sea shore, but this is comparatively rare. 

 By preference it frequents fresh water, being most common 

 along the higher portion of streams, far beyond tidal influ- 

 ences, inland ponds and even swamps. 



Like all the other Stork-billed Kingfishers, with which I am 

 acquainted, it is an excessively noisy bird, darting off when 

 disturbed with a harsh chuckling scream, which it continues 

 for some time after it has reseated itself. Though its food 

 chiefly consists of fish, frogs, &c, taken from the water, yet it 

 not uufrequently feeds on lizards, &c, which it secures on dry 

 land. 



It breeds apparently in the latter end of April and the com- 

 mencement of May. At Meeta Myo I found a pair on the 

 18th April at work, excavating their nest hole in the clayey 

 bank of a stream. — W. D.] 



The following are the dimensions, &c, of adults, recorded in 

 the flesh from a very large series : — 



Males. — Length, 14 - 5 to 15 ; expanse, 21*0 to 22-25 ; tail 

 from vent, 4-25 to 4*75 ; wing, 5-82 to 6-12 ; tarsus, 065 to 075 ; 

 bill from gape, 3 - 55 to 4 - ; weight, 60 to 6'25 ozs. 



Females. — Length, 14-82 to 16-25 ; expanse, 21-25 to 22-5; 

 tail from vent a 4'7 to 4-82 ; wing, 6 - to 67; tarsus, 0'55 to 

 08; bill from gape, 3-75 to 395; weight, 6'5 to 7 ozs. 



128.— Pelargopsis amauroptera, Pearson, (6). 



Amherst ; Mergui ; Laynah ; Malewoon. 



Pretty common everywhere along the Tenasserim coast, not 

 extending far inland. 



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