BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 97 



out of about a hundred which I have examined in which it 

 occurs to this extent. 



139 septus.— Corydon sumatranus, Eaffl. (20). 



(Karen Sills, Earns.) Pahpoon ; Younzaleen Creek ; Bankasoon ; Malewoon* 



Generally diffused throughout the province, except in the 

 drier, more open, deciduous-leaved tree tracts, but nowhere 

 common. 



[This species is spread throughout Tenasserim, but is no- 

 where abundant, being found in pairs or small parties, usually 

 in. moderately thin forest, but it occurs also in dense forest. 

 During the day it is sluggish, and a party will, like S. lunatus, 

 allow themselves to be shot one after the other without any 

 attempt to escape. 



They have an oft-repeated mellow, rather musical note, quite 

 different from, and not at all of the same class as, that of the 

 three preceding species, and also a clear whistle which they utter 

 when flying from tree to tree. 



It does not ascend the higher hills, nor indeed do any of 

 the three preceding species. Not only is their note entirely 

 different, but they are far more sluggish than the rest of the 

 Broadbills, feeding almost exclusively morning and evening-, 

 and sitting for hours motionless on a branch, sometimes high 

 up and sometimes low down, in a slouching attitude, with their 

 necks drawn in and their bills pointing upwards. They are 

 not at all shy, and by no means curious about what is passing 

 round them ; but one day, wben I was waiting by a clear pool 

 watching for Alcedo nigricans, one came and sat on a branch 

 about ten feet distant. He clearly thought me a very strange 

 animal, for, though he did not attempt to go away, he kept 

 craning out his neck and peering down at me in a stupid 

 inquisitive fashion. Thus we remained for about two hours, 

 when A. nigricans not appearing, I shot my stupid neighbour.— 



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



Males.— Length, 109 to 11-0; expanse, 17-25 to 17-75; tail, 

 4 to 4-5 ; wing, 5'25 to 5"62 ; tarsus, 1 to 1-12 ; bill from gape, 

 1-5 to 1-62; weight, 4-25 to 5ozs. 



Female.— Length, 10-5 to 11-25; expanse, 17-75 to 18-25 ; tail, 

 4-12 to 4-4 ; wing, 5-4 to 5'62 ; tarsus, 1-12 to 1-15 ; bill from 

 gape, 1-5 to 1-7 ; weight, 4-5 to 5 ozs. 



Legs, feet, and claws black ; irides deep brown ; upper man- 

 dible in some dark reddish brown, in others dark fleshy pink to 

 pale horny brown, whitish at tip, and shading to fleshy pink at 

 base ; orbital skin, gape, and a streak about middle of lower 

 mandible dark fleshy pink ; rest of lower mandible pale fleshy, 



13 



