BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 321 



460.— Otocompsa emeria, Lin. (27). 



(Tonghoo, Karen Sills, Karennee, Rams.) Pine Forests, Salween ; Kollidoo; 

 Thiitone ; Palipoon ; Tlieinzeik ; Kaukaryit, Houngthraw R. ; Meetan ; Am- 

 herst ; Yea ; Tavoy ; Mergui ; Tenasserini Town ; Bankasoon. 



Common in open country throughout the province. 



[A very common species, but avoiding dense cover, and 

 frequenting by preference gardens and cultivated land. It ig a 

 very familiar bird, and may be seen in almost every garden 

 perched upon some bush, keeping up a lively " kick pittigrew," 

 and occasionally making an abortive attempt at a song. It 

 feeds upon berries and insects, and I have constantly seen it 

 upon the grouud. It usually keeps in pairs, though I have often 

 seen several together. It is rarer about Mergui and southwards 

 perhaps than it is to the north, though I met -with it in the 

 Malay Peninsula as far south as Penang, but not at Malacca 

 or anj'where further south. — W. D.] 



461. — Molpastes pygseus, Hodgs. 



To judge from the B. of B., p. 135, Ramsay got at Tonghoo 

 this species, or rather, I presume, that same variety of it that 

 occurs at Thayetmyo, and of which I have fully described the 

 peculiarities, S. R, III., 127. 



462 bis.— -Molpastes nigropileus, Blyth. (19). Descr. 

 S. R, III., 126 n. 



( Tonghoo, Karen Hills, Rams.) Palipoon 5 Theinzeik ; Thatone ; Kanee ; 

 Kaukaryit, Houngthraw R. ; Megaloon ; Moulmein ; Ngabeemah ; Meetan ; 

 Amherst. 



Common throughout the more open and better cultivated 

 portions of the province north of Amherst. 



[Not an uncommon bird, frequenting gardens, clearings, &c, 

 but avoiding the forest as a rule. It is a rather shy bird, and 

 is found less often in close proximity to houses. Thus in Moul- 

 mein, though common in large park-like grounds, like those 

 surrounding the house of the Commissioner, and several others, 

 it appeared to be quite wanting in the small gardens in the 

 heart of the town where emeria was a common bird. In its 

 habits and voice it resembles 0. emeria, like it often descending 

 to the ground. — W. D.J 



The following are the dimensions recorded in the flesh of 2 

 males and 3 females : — 



Males. — Length, 8*5 to 8*6 ; expanse, 12*0 to 12*25 ; tail from 

 vent, 3'7 ; wing, 3'6 to 3*7 ; tarsus, 0*88 to 0*9 ; bill from gape, 

 0-8 to 0-89; weight, T62 oz. 



41 



