390 BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 



[I obtained a pair of typical malabarica at Mergui out of a 

 small flock I found feeding on a small tree in flower. I observed 

 it once or twice afterwards about the same place. It does not 

 differ either in voice or habits from nemoricola. — W. D.~j 



We have only obtained two undoubted specimens of this 

 species in the whole of Tenasserim ; these are two males from 

 Mergui. These are quite typical, with rich rufous underparts, and 

 without a trace of any white feathers in the wing. We have 

 also procured, however, a number of females absolutely insepara- 

 ble from the females of this species, but which for the reason 

 assio-ned below in my remarks on Sturnia nemoricola, I have 

 recorded in this list as belonging to that species. 



688 bis— Sturnia nemoricola, Jerd. (45). S. leucop- 

 tera, Hume. S. F., II., 480 n. 



(Tonghoo, Rams.) Pahpoon ; Sinzaway ; Salween R. ; Theinzeik ; Tlia-. 

 tone ; Wiinpong ; Kunee ; Moulinein ; Assoon ; Pabyouk ; Meetan ; Amherst. 



Common throughout the province north of Tavoy, but not as- 

 cending the hills and avoiding dense forest. 



[In the more open parts of the country, and in the dry deci- 

 duous forests, about gardens, and on the outskirts of the forest 

 from Pahpoon to Tavoy, this Tree Myna was common, and 

 always in flocks ; they never, I believe, descend to the ground, 

 but always keep to the trees, feeding upon the nectar of flow- 

 ers, insects and even small berries ; they are especially fond of 

 frequenting trees in flower, and the silk cotton tree (Bombaoa 

 sp ?) is one of their favorites ; they are not shy, and when they 

 have been fired at, they all fly off together, with a sharp metal- 

 lic note, which is continued during flight, and either settle upon 

 some neighbouring tree, generally a dead one, where they all 

 huddle together or else swoop round and return to the same 

 tree. They feed chiefly during the morning and evening, betak- 

 ing themselves during the heat of the day to some shady tree. — 



W. D.J 



In the first list of the birds of Tenasserim, S. F., II., 480, note, 

 I pointed out that the race of malabarica inhabiting the nor- 

 thern part of Tenasserim differed materially from Indian speci- 



mens 



and proposed for it the name of leucoptera. 



Later, S. F., III., 151, 1 reproduced Jerdon's original des- 

 cription of the present species, and also gave an exact descrip- 

 tion of the specimen which he gave me as the type of that 

 species. Later again, S. F., IV., 333, I explained that Sturnia 

 nemoricola was an extremely variable race, and that my supposed 

 leucoptera was merely one of its many forms, and I pointed out 

 the extraordinary extent to which the amount of white in the 

 wings of nemoricola varied. 



