BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 210 



Gut of the enormous series of Dissemuri which we have col- 

 lected, only one single specimen from Kollidoo, the northernmost 

 point of Tenasserim (excluding Tonghoo, Karen nee, &c), is refer- 

 able to the Northern Nepalese and Sikim long-crested long- 

 winged form christened malabaroides by Hodgson. This speci- 

 men has the wing 69, and the longest crest feathers 195 inches 

 in length, and must I think be referred as above. 



285 bis.— Dissemurus paradiseus, Lin. (82). 



(Karennee, Tonghoo, Rams.) Pahpoon ; Sittang R. ; Thatone ; Wimpong ; Monl- 

 mein ; Pabyouk ; Yea-boo ; Karope; Amherst; Yea 5 MeetaMjo ; Tavoy ; Thajet- 

 choung; S&jmofcee ; Mergui; Tenasserim Town ; Pakckan ; Bankasoon ; Malewoon. 



Common throughout the province, alike in hills and plains. 



[Very common throughout Tenasserim, frequenting chiefly the 

 forests, but occurring also in gardens, scrub jungle, &c. 



The variety of notes, and the power of imitating the notes of 

 other birds, that this species possesses is perfectly marvellous. 

 Its normal note is a harsh metallic one, but there is scarce- 

 ly a single note heard in the forests that it does not imitate 

 to perfection. I have heard it take off Garrulax belangeri, so that 

 I am sure the birds themselves would not have detected the im- 

 posture. These Babbling Thrushes by the way always associate 

 with other kindred species in large flocks, hunting straight on end 

 right through the forest, and you will invariably find two or more 

 of the Dissemuri following or accompanying each such flock. 



Whenever there is a flight of white-ants, you are sure to see 

 numbers of these Rocket-tailed Drongos hawking them, till it is 

 quite dark, in company with Rollers, Night Jars and other birds. 



They are very bold birds, not in the least afraid of men or 

 guns, and could be shot by hundreds. — W. D.] 



In Tenasserim proper the present species commences from 

 Pahpoon, only some 40 or 50 miles south of Kollidoo. No doubt, 

 some of the Pahpoon birds average rather larger and have rather 

 longer crests, but they are much nearer paradiseus than mala- 

 baroides. Further north in Tonghoo and Karennee, this preseut 

 species {vide Lord Tweeddale) also occurs. 



Commencing now at Pahpoon, and travelling southward to the 

 Pakchan Estuary, the southern boundary of Tenasserim, we ob- 

 serve no important variation in size till we reach Mergui. There 

 is perhaps a slight diminution in size, and certainly an appreci- 

 able decrease in the length and amount of crest, as we proceed 

 southwards, but it is not until we get to Mergui that any very 

 marked chauge in these respects is observable. 



To show the decrease in size, I subjoin measurements of the 

 wings of adults from north to south : — 



Pahpoon, 6-5 ; 6'2 ; 6-4 ; 5 8; 6-5 ; 62 ; 6-2 ; 6-4 ; 6'2 J 61 ; 6-1 ; 

 (H. 



