BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 171 



I may add that the total length of this bird in the flesh was 

 19'8 ; of the adults of eurycercus from 22 to 24. 



This Acheen species is, therefore, very much smaller than 

 the true eurycercus, with as long 1 , or perhaps longer, but consider- 

 ably slenderer bill. The hind claws are markedly shorter. 



The tail blue, with a marked green shade ; the adults in fact 

 with tails colored like those of somewhat immature eurycercus. 



Sex for sex the Acheen birds have much larger bills than 

 intermedins, and moreover have nothing of the bright pure 

 green gloss on the tails of the perfect adults of that species. 



I propose to distinguish this form for the present under the 

 name of Centrococcyx acheenensis. 



218.— Centropus bengalensis, Gm. (4). 



{Karen-nee, Earns.) Kollidoo ; Tavoy; Bankasoon; Malewoon. 



Occurs, though very sparingly, in suitable localities throughout 

 the province. 



[This species occurs but sparingly in the province, and only 

 in those portions where there is kine grass or rank low herbage. 

 When flushed it flies but a short distance and drops into the 

 grass. I have never seen it either in forest, or even in the 

 scrubby jungle that the larger Ooucal loves to frequent. The 

 note and habits of this species are admirably described by Mr. 

 Gammie, S. ¥., V., 385.— W. D.] 



I enter all our specimens as bengalensis, Gm. Cabanis gives two 

 nearly allied species, C. lepichs, Horsf., from Java, and C. bengalen- 

 sis, Nepal. The Marquis of Tweeddale, Tr. Z. S., VIII., 58, 

 assigns Dumont's name javanensis to the first, and adds Malacca, 

 Banjermassing, and Celebes to the original Javan habitat. _ 



It may be that the Marquis of Tweeddale is in error in iden- 

 tifying Malaccan examples with the Javan species, but it 

 appears to me very certain that there is only one species of this 

 type from Singapore to Suddya on the one side, and Nepal on the 

 other. 



The distinctions drawn by Cabanis between his lepidus (java- 

 nensis apud Lord T.,) and C. bengalensis are briefly these: — 



Lepidus black, with greenish lustre Bengalensis black, with a bluish lustre. 



Wings and interscapulars pale ferrugi- 

 nous red Some of the shafts of the Wings and interscapulars cinnamon red. 

 lesser wing-coverts white. 



Bill very short. Bill moderate. 



Claws long. ( laws excessively long. 



Length, 13-7; wing, 575. Length, 15 32; wing, 6-8o. 



Tail, 74; culmen, 0-91- Tail, 877; culmen, 1-1. 



Height of bill, 0-55; tarsus, 1-65- Height of bill, 05o ; tarsus, 165. 



Middle toe, excluding claw, 11. Middle toe, excluding claw, 1-19. 



Hind toe claw inside, 11. Hind toe claw inside, T29. 



Dr. Cabanis appears to have had one adult of the one supposed 

 species, and one adult of the other before him. 



