BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 237 



localities. No one who has handled many fresh specimens of 

 both can doubt the distinctness of this and the Himalayan 

 species. You could distinguish them in the jungle by the 

 colour of the bil alone. — W. D.] 



344. — Hydromis nipalensis, Hodgs. 



Blyth (B. of B., p. 97) gives this from Tenasserim, but he had 

 doubtless failed to note the distinctions between true nipalensis 

 and oatesi, the form that really occurs in Tenasserim. There is 

 no reason to believe that true nipalensis does occur any where 

 in Tenasserim, as even in Karennee; in the extreme north Ramsay 

 procured oatesi. 



344 Ms.— Hydromis oatesi, Hume, (22). Descr. 

 S.F.,1.,477. 



(Earennee, from 2,500 to 4,000 feet, Earns.) Assoon; Mooleyifc; Meetan. 



Confined to the hilly portions of the northern and central 

 sections of the province. 



[Excessively numerous in thin tree jungle at the base of 

 the south-western spurs of Mooleyit, and occurring, though 

 rarely elsewhere, on the hills to 5,000 feet elevation. I saw, 

 but failed to secure, a specimen near Pahpoon. Like other 

 Pittas, they keep to the ground, industriously turning over 

 the dry leaves. When suddenly disturbed or put up by dogs 

 they will rise and fly, but I never saw these light upon any 

 tree or bush ; they always drop again on the ground after fly- 

 ing, sometimes as much as au hundred, sometimes only a few 

 yards. They have a clear, full, double-whistled note, which they 

 utter occasionally, not nearly so often as most of the 

 other species. They feed on insects, grubs, slugs, and small 

 shells, and like all Pittas largely also on ants. — W. D.] 



The following are dimensions and colors of soft parts of a 

 large series recorded in the flesh : — 



Males.— Length, 9*25 to 10*0 ; expanse, 15-5 to 15*75; tail 

 from vent, 25 to 2*7 ; wing, 4'6 to 4'85 ; tarsus, 21 to 2-2 ; 

 bill from gape, 1'31 to 1'4 ; weight, 4'25 to 4 - 75 ozs. 



Females. — Length, 925 to 9'75 ; expanse, 15-25 to 156 ; tail 

 from vent, 2'4 to 2"6 ; wing, 4'65 to 4*9 ; tarsus, 2'0 to 2'2 ; 

 bill from gape, 1*3 to 1*4 ; weight, 3*5 to 4*5 ozs. 



Legs and feet are dark pinkish fleshy, or pale fleshy brown ; 

 claws whitish ; the upper mandible varies from pale brown 

 to almost black ; lower mandible very pale brown to fleshy 

 white. 



