RANGOON DISTRICT OF THE IRRAWADDY DELTA. SOL 
983.—Sterna nilotica, V. Hasselq. 
This species was met with in abundance along the shore lying 
between China-Ba-keer and Elephant Point. It always pre- 
ferred hunting for its prey at the water’s edge, so that it was 
only possible to secure specimens at high water, in consequence 
of the impossibility of crossing the broad mud flats, which at 
low water intervene between tiie beach and the margin of the 
water. Specimens shot measure in the flesh :— 
Length, 12°5, 14:25; expanse, 34:25, 39°75 ; tail from vent, 
4°,5°5; wing, 11°25, 12:2; tarsus, 1:2, 1:4; bill from gape, 
1:9, 2°4. 
A Kirst Mist of the Birds of the Grabancore Pills, 
For the last two or three years Mr. Frank Bourdillon has 
been very kindly sending me, from time to time, small despatches 
of birds from Southern Travancore, chiefly collected in and 
at the base of the range of mountains locally known as the 
Assamboo Hills, which commencing near Cape Comorin, run 
up thence nearly due northwards. Ninety species having thus 
accumulated, many of them of great interest, Mr. Bourdillon 
has kindly favoured me with a brief description of the phy- 
sical characteristics of the locality in which these specimens 
were collected, together with notes in regard to most of the 
species, which will be found reproduced under his initials, in the 
subjoined list. A great number of the specimens had been 
carefully measured in the flesh. In all such cases I have copied 
the dimensions from the tickets. A few species have been in- 
serted in the list by Mr. Bourdillon on his own authority, as 
he felt certain of their identity. 
Mr. Bourdillon says :— 
“Tt is with considerable diffidence that I accede to Mr. 
Hume’s request for a short introductory note to his list of birds 
collected by me in South Travancore, feeling confident that, 
through defective information, I shall have to omit many points of 
interest which might be advantageously introduced in a paper of 
thiskind. However, in the hope that a preliminary notice in 
“ Stray Fearners,’ may induce other and abler ornithologists 
with equally favourable opportunities to co-operate in working out 
and recording the avi-fauna Travancore, I venture to offer a few 
remarks on the locality in which my specimens were collected. 
“This is a portion of that range of hills, which, commencing 
within a few miles of Cape Comorin, stretches northwards, with 
slight interruptions, along the western coast, and forms the chief 
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