ASSAM, SYLHET AND CACHAR. 261 



whitish along commissure ; irides, outer circle, brown, inner 

 ditto white. No others were ever seen. — J. R. C] 



683^'25.— Sturnopastor superciliaris, Ely. 



This species was fairly common all over the Manipur valley 

 or basin, but I observed it nowhere in the hills. 



I do not think this species occurs in Assam, Sylhet or 

 Cachar. Godwin- Austen no doubt says that the Cachar bird 

 is superciliaris, but for reasons given below I am unable to 

 concur with him. 



I have not seen this species from Arakan, but I have it from 

 both Northern and Southern Pegu, and from all parts of Tenas- 

 serim where the locality is suitable, from Mergui northwards. 



In Sylhet* I found Q^Z.—Sturnopastor contra, Lin., common ; 

 in Cachar too I shot several, and all were true contra. I 

 scrutinized every bird of this kind I saw in Cachar ; not one 

 superciliaris. From N.-E. Cachar I have received several 

 specimens ; all are contra. Under these circumstances, 

 though not disputing the fact that Godwin- Austen may have 

 obtained a specimen of superciliaris from some part of Cachar, 

 I must traverse his contention that "the Cachar bird is 

 superciliaris." From Sadiya and four other places in the 

 Dibrugarh district all the specimens likewise are contra, as is 

 also one from Northern Sylhet. Further I know not concern- 

 ing its distribution in Assam, Sylhet or Cachar. 1 do not 

 think it extends to Arakan, and in Pegu and Tenasserim it is 

 represented by superciliaris. 



[In Dibrugarh they are pretty common, and in September 

 they congregate in flocks, but whether they migrate after- 

 wards or "not I am unable to say. The birds I shot were true 

 contra, and measured : — 



Length. Expaitse. Tail. Wing. Tarsus. Bill from gape. Weight. 



$ 9-30 14'25 2-30 4 65 1-30 1'45 325 ozs. 



$ '" 9-40 14-60 280 4-75 1-35 1-51 290 „ 



9-40 13-50 3-0 4-60 125 142 2-75 „ 



^' ".. 9-80 14-40 3 4-60 130 1-53 2-90 „ 



Legs and feet ivory-yellow ; irides ivory-white ; orbital skin 

 orange-yellow ; bill, basal half deep orange, rest ivory-white. 

 In winter the legs and feet are horny-brown. — J. R C] 



* I happened, I do not know why, to measure one female, and may as well 

 record the details. Length, 9-2; expanse, 14-3; tail, 2*95; wing, 4 6 ; 

 tarsus, 1-28 ; bill from gape, 1-45 ; weight, 2-45ozs. Legs and feet dingy- 

 pale yellowish fleshy ; terminal half of bill white J basal portions and 

 orbital skin orange-red j irides yellowish-white. 



