BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 343 



case of the first primary there is in both a considerable amount 

 of variation in both length and breadth. 



But undoubtedly comparing adults and young 1 killed in the 

 same months in England and India, there is an appreciable 

 difference of colour. The (supposed) Jiendersoni are more 

 strongly marked on the upper surface, especially on the rump ; 

 the paler edges of all the feathers of the upper surface are 

 paler and yellower, and as a rule the lower surface is brighter 

 and cleaner than that of noevia. For my part, unless some 

 certain and constant difference, such as I have been unable to 

 detect, be discovered, I should be disposed to treat our Indian 

 bird as a somewhat smaller, rather brighter coloured race, not 

 specificably separable from ncevia. I may add that the minutest 

 scrutiny of bills, legs, feet and tails has not enabled me to 

 detect any constant difference between the two forms where 

 these are concerned, but sharper eyes may succeed where I 

 have failed. 



522 ter. — Urosphena squamiceps, Swinh. (l). 



Bankasoon. 



Confined to the neighbourhood of the Pakchan. Probably 

 only a cold weather visitant. 



[In 1876 I found this bird not uncommon in the forests at 

 the extreme south of the province, and we shot some five or six 

 specimens, but they were all, but one, too much injured by the 

 shot to be preserved. 



I found them always on the ground, hopping about, and 

 turning over the dead leaves, and working in and out and 

 about the fallen trunks and branches. Sometimes, when disturb- 

 ed, they would fly up on to some low branch, but they had hard- 

 ly settled before they dropped again to the ground. They were 

 not at all shy, and could be approached within a couple of 

 feet : in fact from their excessive tameness, their diminutiveness, 

 and their dark color approximating closely with the color of 

 the dead leaves, and their persistent refusal to fly or settle 

 where one could see them from a sufficient distance to shoot 

 from, I found it extremely difficult to shoot a bird without 

 blowing it to bits. 



When disturbed, they utter a feeble chick, chick, which is the 

 only note I have heard. The one examined had eaten minute 

 insects. — W. D.] 



Only a single specimen, a female, was preserved of this bird. 

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



Female. — Length, 4/3 ; expanse, 6 '5 ; tail from vent, 1*1 ; 

 wing, 205 j tarsus, 07; bill from gape, 0*62 ; weight almost 

 0-3 oz. 



