BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 189 



233 sext— Chalcoparia singalensis,* Gm. (42). Descr. 

 S. F., Ill, 86. 



{Tonghoo, Rams.) Pahpoon; Sal ween R ; Kaukaryifc, Houngthraw R ; Moul- 

 rnein ; Pabyouk ; Yea-boo ; Amherst ; Tavoy ; Mergrti ; Tenasserim Town ; 

 Pakchan ; Bankasoon ; Malewoon. 



Found throughout the province, but not ascending the 

 hills. 



[In its habits this species differs conspicuously from all its 

 congeners, reminding one very much of the White-eyed Tit 

 (Zosterops palpebrosus) , or again of Timalia {Cyanoderma) 

 erythroptera. Except perhaps during the breeding season, it goes 

 about in small parties of from five to ten in amongst the un- 

 der-growth, or the skirts of the forest, or in scrub jungle, 

 hunting amongst the foliage and roots of the trees for insects 

 on which it chiefly subsists, and keeping up the while an in- 

 cessant twittering. 



Of other species' of Sunbirds a dozen, or even at times 

 fifty, may be seen about a single tree ; but in the case of these 

 there is never any concerted action between more than a single 

 pair. They do not go about in flocks, though many individuals 

 may happen to collect in a single place, but the present species, 

 when not breeding, is almost always seen in flocks workino- to- 

 gether in concert, invariably moving away from one place to 

 another at the same time, and hunting some high and some low 

 just as a mob of our Titmice on the Himalayas may often be 

 seen doing. — W. D.] 



The most northerly point from which this species has been 

 obtained is the Bhootan Doars ; thence it stretches southwards 

 along the Brahmapootra, and eastwards across them into Assam, 

 the Khasia Hills, Mymensing, Sylhet, Cachar, Dacca, Tipperah, 

 Chittagong, Arracan, and Pegu, avoiding however the dry 

 northern portion of the latter province, but beino- common 

 enough about Rangoon and the neighbourhood of the Sittauo* 

 (where Mr. Oates has found it breeding, and has taken many 

 nests), throughout the entire length of Tenasserim, from 

 Tounghoo to the Pakchan, and thence southwards throughout the 

 Malay Peninsula (I mean of course the western half of this, 

 of the eastern transmontane portion I know as yet nothino-) 

 to Johore and Singapore. 



In the lower portions of Pegu, about Moulmein and south- 

 wards to the Pakchan Estuary, it is common and abundant • 

 but it is much rarer both northwards and southwards of this tract 

 of country, which appears to be, on the mainland at any rate, its 

 head-quarters. 



* For reasons for the retention of this name, vide S. F., V., 978. 



