82 BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 



[The note of this bird is similar to that of A. bengalensis, and 

 it also resembles that species to a certain extent in habits, but 

 it keeps entirely to those streams whose banks are covered 

 with forest. When disturbed, it leaves the stream and betakes 

 itself to the forest ; it is exceedingly shy. I have usually seen 

 it in pairs, and at the outside I may have met with a dozen 

 pairs from first to last. This is eminently a Water Kingfisher, 

 and lives, I believe, entirely on fish. — W. D.] 



I retain for the present Blytlr's name for the species which 

 is not very uncommon in the southern part of the Tenasserim 

 provinces, and even extends along the foot of the hills as far 

 north at any rate as Mooleyit. 



We preserved three males and two females, all adults ap- 

 parently, as one pair of them were constructing their nest-hole 

 in the banks of the Bankasoon Creek when shot, and the others 

 are similar to this pair. 



Mr. Oates' men obtained a sixth specimen, a male, similar 

 to our males. 



Either Professor Schlegel's and Mr. Sharpe's descriptions and 

 plates of A. euryzona, Tern., are more or less erroneous, or else 

 our bird, which is unquestionably Blytlr's nigricans, is distinct. 



In the first place, the birds described as the young by both 

 these authorities, appear to be females. At any rate the adult 

 females wear a garb very similar to what they describe as the 

 dress of the young. 



In the absence of specimens of the true euryzona to compare, 

 it is impossible to be certain that our birds are distinct ; but 

 they agree so imperfectly with the descriptions referred to, 

 which are those of the greatest living authorities in regard to 

 this group, that I prefer to retain Blytlr's name, although the 

 dimensions agree well enough. 



The following are the dimensions recorded in the flesh, colors 

 of the soft parts, and description of an adult pair : — 



Male. — Length, 8'0 ; expanse, 12"6; tail, 1*6; wing, 34 ; 

 tarsus, 0'5 ; bill from gape, 2"4 ; from margin of feathers, V7 ; 

 weight, 1*75 oz. 



Upper mandible black ; lower mandible very dark brown, 

 almost black, paler at base ; iris deep brown ; legs and feet 

 vermilion. 



Female. — Length, 7*9; expanse, 12*5; tail, 1'65 ; wing, 

 3'52 ; tarsus, 045 ; bill from gape, 2"3 ; bill from margin of 

 feathers, 1*68; weight, 1'75 oz. 



Upper mandible black ; lower mandible pale red ; iris very 

 dark brown ; legs and feet pale vermilion ; claws pale 

 orange. 



The upper surfaces of the two sexes are precisely similar, 

 namely the whole upper parts (except the back and upper tail- 



