318 BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 



This species, like Brachypodius, is more of a fruit, and less 

 of an insect-eating bird than any of the other Bulbuls. 



It is always found in pairs or singly ; never, I think, in parties ; 

 and, though a good number may be met with simultaneously, 

 frequenting the same berry-bearing tree or bush, these are not 

 acting in concert, but each individual or pair independently. 

 The note is very like that of the Otocompsas, and the general 

 bearing of the birds is very like that of an Otocompsa; the bright 

 yellow eye of this bird set in the black of the face is very 

 conspicuous even from a long distance ; the bird always caries 

 its crest well erected, and has a very sprightly appearance. 

 When at rest the head is rather drawn in Trogon-like, but the 

 crest is never depressed. It is almost impossible to make a 

 really good specimen of this bird, as there are hardly any 

 feathers on the back of the neck. It is not an uncommon bird, 

 even in the gardens about Moulmein itself. — W. D.] 



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



Males. — Length, 7-5 to 8'0; expanse, 10'25 tol0'75;tail 

 from vent, 3-12 to 3-62; wing, 3-12 to 3*55; tarsus, 0-62 to 

 0-65; bill from gape, 0-76 to 0-8 ; weight, 1-0 to 1*3 oz. 



Females. — Leugth, 7*2 to 8 - ; expanse, 10 25 to 1 1*10 ; tail 

 from vent, 3-12 to 3'5 ; wing, 3*12 to 3*37 ; tarsus, 0-55 to 0'62; 

 bill from gape, 0'7. 



Legs and feet dark plumbeous or greenish black ; irides pale 

 yellow ; bill black. 



457 bis. —Brachypodius melanocephalus, Gm, (38). 

 Desck. S- F., IV., 334. 



{Karennee, Rams.) Kyouk-nyat ; Dargwin ; Pahpoon ; Younzaleen Creek ; 

 Thatone ; Moulmein ; Meetan ; Amherst ; Pabyin j Mergui ; Patoe Island ; 

 Choungthapee ; Pakchan ; Bankasoon ; Malewoon. 



Found abundantly throughout the province, except on the 

 higher slopes of the highest hills. 



[Wherever this bird occurs it is very common, large num- 

 bers being usually seen in one place, though rather scattered 

 about it. In July it was excessively abundant in the gardens 

 in and about Moulmein. Its notes, for it has two, are very 

 distinct, and unlike those of other Bulbuls. The ordinary one 

 is a lively, sharp, but pleasant single chirp. This they conti- 

 nually utter, as they hop from branch to branch, picking berries 

 and as they fly from tree to tree, and even when seated at 

 rest ; the other note is a melancholy double whistle, not un- 

 like that of a Sibia. This they utter only when quietly seated, 

 especially in the morning and evening. They are, I should say, 

 very quarrelsome birds, and I have repeatedly seen them attack 

 one another and come tumbling to the ground, as one often 

 sees a couple of pugnacious Sparrows do. I have never found 

 anything but berries in those I have examined. 



