BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 383 



the females grow darker, so that at the extreme south you get 

 birds which are, on the whole, much nearer musicus thau 

 saularis. 



475 bis.^ Copsychus musicus, Raffl. (5). 



Tenasserim Town ; PakchaD. 



Confined to the southernmost portions of the province. 



As already explained these specimens are much nearer 

 to musicus than saularis, but still they are to a certain extent 

 intermediate. Neither the breasts nor the upper surfaces of 

 the females are quite as dark as in Malaccan ones, nor are the 

 black centerings of the under wing-coverts as broad or as strong- 

 ly marked as in the great majority of the Malayan ones. 



476.— Cercotrichas macrura, Gm. (59). 



(Tonglioo, Karennee at 1,500 feet, Rams.) Kyouk-nyat; Dargwin ; Pahpoon; 

 Tbatone ; Wimpong ; Thoungya Sakan ; Topee ; Moulmein ; Pabyouk ; 

 Assoon ; Meetan ; Karope ; Amherst ; Lemyne ; Yea ; Tavoy : Mergui ; 

 Tenasserim Town ; Pakchan ; Palaw-ton-ton ; Bankasoon. 



Common throughout the wooded portions of the province, 

 but not ascending the higher hills. 



[The Burmese Nightingale, as this bird is always there called, 

 is the finest songster in Tenasserim, and in the breeding season, 

 where they occur, may be heard morning and evening, but 

 especially in the evening at and after dusk, pouring forth their 

 melodies on every side. The bird is usually found in pairs, 

 and particulai-ly affects bamboo jungle, though it is found in 

 clearings, thin tree and scrub jungle, and also not uncommonly 

 in dense forest. It is far from uncommon in the bamboo and 

 scrub jungle, behind the town of Moulmein, and about the 

 town of Pahpoon. Late of an evening, when it is almost too dark 

 to see, these birds have a habit, at any rate the male has, of fly- 

 ing across an open space, such as a road for instance, and mak- 

 ing a peculiar clicking noise, with his wings I suppose it is. The 

 nearest approach to the sound I know can be produced 

 by jerking a bit of narrow tape, a foot or so long, quickly, 

 holding it at both ends. They feed exclusively on insects, and 

 may continually be seen hopping about on the ground, huntin°* 

 for these amongst the dry bamboo leaves. — W. D.] 



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



Males.— Length, 11*0 to 11-75; expanse, 11*5 to 12'0 ; tail 

 from vent, 6*5 to 712 ; wing, 3-65 to 39 ; tarsus, 1-0 to 112; 

 bill from gape, 0*9 to 0-95 ; weight, 0'9 to 112 oz. 



Females. — Length, 812 to 8-5; expanse, 105 to 10'82; tail 

 from vent, 4-0 to 4'35 ; wing, 3'25 to 3-4; tarsus, 1-0; bill 

 from gape, 0*85 ; weight, I oz. 



Legs and feet fleshy white ; claws pale horny ; bill black ; irides 

 dark brown. 



