BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 177 



The two or three outer tail feathers on either side have a 

 dull whitish spot or band on the inner webs close to the tip ; 

 the edge of the wing is bright yellow ; the wing-lining partly 

 white and partly greyish brown ; axillaries white, tinged with 

 pale yellow towards their tips. 



224 tei\— Arachnothera chrysogenys, Tern. (4). 



Mergui ; Malewoon. 



Confined to the southernmost portions of the province. 

 [The lesser Yellow-eared Spiderhunter ranges northwards, at 

 least as far as Mergui. It is not uncommon in the many 

 gardens of Mergui Island, and from thence southward I have 

 obtained it in many localities down to the extreme southern 

 point of the Malay Peninsula. It affects gardens more than 

 any of the other species ; in fact, all our specimens were ob- 

 tained in gardens, and none about cocoanut groves and forest 

 trees ; and, though of course it must occasionally occur about 

 these also, I do not think that I have ever observed it in 

 forest, or scrub jungle, or anywhere, except in and about 

 villages. In all its habits, &c, it resembles the other species. — 

 W. D.] 



I may perhaps here add that, although the Rpiderhunters, 

 like all the Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers do feed on small 

 insects, such as flies, &c, still dissection shows that they sub- 

 sist chiefly on the nectar of flowers. 



The sexes seem to differ less in this species in size than is the 

 case with the other Arachnotheras, but we have unfortunately 

 measured very few specimens in the flesh. One male measured : — 



Length, 7 ; expanse, 10'82 ; tail from vent, 1*7 ; wing, 3*5 ; 

 tarsus, rJ 0-75 ; bill from gape, 1'65. 



Females. — Length, 6-75 ; expanse, 10 to 10-25 ; tail from vent, 

 1-5 to 1-62 ; wing, 3-12 to 3'25 ; tarsus, 07 to 075 ; bill from 

 gape, 0-62 to 0-65 ; weight, 075 oz. 



Specimens killed in November had the legs and feet fleshy 

 white ; the bill darker horny brown ; the edges of both man- 

 dibles to within 0*6 of tip, dirty yellow ; gape fleshy white ; irides 



brown. 



I do not think that in either this species, or the nearly 

 allied flavigaster, there is any seasonal change in the colors of the 

 soft parts. 



The vent, lower tail-coverts, a patch at the base of the lower 

 mandible involving the ear-coverts, and a narrow line round the 

 anterior portion, and encircling the whole upper portion of the 

 eye bright pale yellow; abdomen greenish grey, shaded with 

 this same yellow ; chin, throat and breast greyish green, yellow- 

 er on the throat, greyer on the breast; forehead, lores beyond 



23 



