BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 387 



seldom seen. South of this latter place it certainly does not 

 occur either within our limits or anywhere iu the Malay 

 Peninsula, where I have been. Again in the north about 

 Pahpoon it is not very common, and I fouud it became less 

 abundant up the Houngthraw river. At Kaukaryit, on this 

 river, I noticed a few. — W. D.] 



678 quint.— Platysmufus leucopterus, Tem. (13). 



Meeta Myo ; Tenasserim Town ; Pakchau ; Baukasoon ; Malewoon. 



Confined to the evergreen forests of the southern section of 

 the province, though extending along the lower slopes of the 

 main range to between 14° and 15° N. L. 



[This species keeps entirely to the forests, going about usually 

 in parties of from four to six. They have a deep rolling me- 

 tallic note, which they continually utter as they move from tree 

 to tree. I have never seen them on the ground ; they probably 

 get their food, which consists of insects, and occasionally at any 

 rate of fruit, amongst the trees. They are excessively restless, and 

 always on the move, flying from tree to tree generally ai a consi- 

 derable height, and continually uttering their harsh metallic call. 

 They restrict themselves to the evergreen forests/never that lam 

 aware coming into gardens or open ground. — W. D.] 



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



Males,— Length, 1512 to 16"62; expanse, 22*5 to 24; 

 tail from vent, 7*12 to 8'0 ; wing, 7*2 to 7*82 ; tarsus, 1-5 to 

 l'(>2 ; bill from gape, 1*55 to 1*75; weight, 8 to 9 ozs. 



Females. — Length; 15*5 to 1642; expanse, 24-5; tail from 

 vent, 6-75 to 7'75 wing, 7-25 to 7*85; tarsus, 14 to 1'62; 

 bill from gape, 1*7 ; weight, 8 ozs. 



Bill, legs, feet and claws black; irides lake red to crimson. 



The entire bird is velvet black, but with faint reflections on 

 crown and the tips of the quills, and with a conspicuous snow 

 white wing-bar, varying considerably in extent, but normally 

 composed of the greater secondary coverts and a large patch down 

 the outer webs of the 4th and 5th secondaries, with a little white 

 at the base of the 3rd secondary, but the white sometimes ex- 

 tends to the 6th secondary, and sometimes the 3rd has a good 

 deal and the 2nd a litlle, white. 



683 bis.— Sturnopaster superciliaris, JBlyth. (45). 

 Desob. S-F., 111,149. 



(Tonghoo, Rams.) Pahpoon ; Moulmein ; Kohbaing ; Amherst ; Tavoy ; Shy- 

 motee ; Zadawoon ; Mergui. • 



Common throughout the whole open and plains country of the 

 province from Mergui northwards. 



