BIRDS OF TENASSKRIM. 241 



[For many months after my arrival in Burma, I did not meet 

 with this species ; but while at Tavoy, towards the latter end of 

 April, after a few good showers of rain, they suddenly appeared 

 in great numbers in the gardens and plantations in and about 

 Tavoy. Before the rain I can safely affirm that there were none 

 about the place, for day after day for j;he greater part of the 

 month had I been working the country in which they subse- 

 quently became so numerous. From this time till I left Burma 

 in July they were numerous everywhere 



Subsequently I have, year by year, noticed the annual mi- 

 gration throughout the southern and central portions of the 

 province. Very likely they extend to the north, but I have 

 never been there at the right season. I suspect, however, that 

 they are rather a coast-loving species. 



Although the great mass of the birds come as described, a few, 

 I think, remain all the year round in the mangrove swamps of 

 the southern extremity of the province ; at any rate I have found 

 them there from January to July. 



This species is very fond of perching on trees; you may con- 

 tinually see them high up upon high trees calling vociferously. 



They are not at all wild or shy birds ; they feed freely on ants 

 and their larva?, all insects, grubs and land shells. I never notic- 

 ed this or any of its congeners coming to the water to drink. 



This and the closely-allied P. megarhynclia seem to fre- 

 quent most commonly thin tree jungle, where there is not much 

 under-wood and the mangrove swamps, but they also occur 

 abundantly in gardens and plantations. They both have a fine 

 clear double note, which may constantly be heard in the mor- 

 ning and evening wherever they occur. They are decidedly 

 noisy and often call all day, and on moonlight nights a great 

 part of the night also. — W. I).] 



Somebody said, I forget who, that Pitta bertce, of Salvadori, 

 is only the young of this species ; but I feel pretty certain that 

 this is not the case, as I have examined quite young birds and 

 have not found them resemble or approach bertce in any way. 

 Bertce has all but the middle portion of the crown and occiput 

 chestnut; a very conspicuous buffy white supercilium; green 

 secondaries ; very pale blue rump and upper tail-coverts ; rosy 

 middle of abdomen and vent. At no age has moluccensis any 

 one of these. 



The following are dimensions, &c, recorded in the flesh : — 



Male.— Length, 7-75 to 8-25; expanse, 16-12 to 17-12; tail 

 from vent, 1*5 to 1*75 ; wing, 4*75 to 5*2 ; tarsus, 1-65 to 1*75 ; 

 bill from gape, 1*15 to 1'2; weight, 2*75 to 30 ozs. 



Females. — Length, 8-0 to 8-12; expanse, 16-12 to 16 - 5 ; tail 

 from vent, 1*5 to 1*75; wing, 4*75 to 4-82; tarsus, 155 to 1*6 ; 

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



31 



