BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 233 



822.— Sipha erythaca, Blyth & Jerd. (5). Descr. 

 S. F., II., 458. 



(Karen Sills, afc 4,000 feet, Earns.) Pine forests, Salween ; Mooleyit. 



Confined to the higher hills of the northern and central 

 portions of the province. 



[I met with this bird only in the pine forests and their 

 outskirts, to the north of Pahpoon, and near the summit of 

 Mooleyit. The species was very rare, and I only noticed a few- 

 Individuals. They are true Flycatchers. I shot one still catch- 

 ing* insects, when it was so dark that I had no idea, until I 

 picked it up, what the bird could be. — W. D.] 



The following' are dimensions, &c., of 3 males and 2 females 

 recorded in the flesh :— 



Males.— Length, S'OtoS'^; expanse, 8 - 4 to 882 ; tail from 

 vent, 2*1 to 2-3; wing, 2'75 to 2-9 ; tarsus, 0-61 to 0-65; bill 

 from gape, 0'6 to 0'65 ; weight, 0'3 to 04 oz. 



Females. — Length, 5*3 to 5*25 ; expanse, 8'3 to 9*0 ; tail from 

 vent, 2-12 to 2-3; wing, 275 to 2-9; tarsus, 0'6 to 07; bill 

 from gape, 0'6 ; weight, 0'4 oz. 



Legs and feet are dark red brown ; upper mandible black ; 

 lower mandible brown; irides dark brown. 



323.— Erythrosterna albicilla, Pall. (14). 



(Karen Sills, Rams.) Kollidoo ; Pahpoon ; Younznleen Creek ; Kaukaryit, 

 Houngthraw E. ; Yea-boo j Tavoy ; Mergui ; Tenasserini Town. 



A cold weather visitant throughout the province, but not 

 ascending the higher hills. 



[Met with in all kinds of localities, except dense forest ; in 

 brushwood, thin tree and bamboo jungles, gardens and even 

 bare land, where there were only a few stakes to perch on. They* 

 are true Flycatchers, seizing all their prey on the wing ; always 

 seen singly seated on some spray convenient for a sally after 

 a passing insect ; never descending to the ground. By the 

 middle of March all appear to have left for their breeding 

 quarters. I never saw a specimen in breeding plumage. — 

 W. D.] 



325. — Erythrosterna acornaus, Bly. 



Beavan recorded this from Zwagaben, a limestone rock, a few 

 miles north of Moulmein. Ramsay is said to have obtained 

 it in Karennee, at 2,500 feet elevation. It is a very doubtful 

 species, with which however I shall deal separately hereafter ; 

 in the meantime see Brooks, S. F., V., 471, on this supposed 

 species. 



30 



