BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 43 



The bird appears to be smaller, the head and nape much darker, 

 and the feathers of the back, rump, upper tail coverts, and the 

 tertiaries more distinctly fringed at the tips with albescent 

 than in sinensis. I have a very large series of this latter species 

 from all parts of India, and can find nothing 1 like the Thayetmyo 

 bird; if distinct, it should stand as C. obscurior, nobis. 



I at first thought that this might be the true subsoccata of 

 Hodgson, but the breast-band is perhaps less strongly marked 

 than in sinensis, and the rump is decidedly paler than in that 

 sj^eeies, so that our bird cannot be identified with Hodgson's. 



Mr. Oates says that " this bird is very common on the banks 

 of the Irrawaddy and some of the larger nullahs. It begins to 

 dig its nest-hole very early in the season, soon after the 1st 

 November." 



101 fo's.—Cypselus pacificus, Lath. 



This species, which occurs also in the autumn in Tipperah, 

 Cachar, and Assam, appears to be an occasional visitant to 

 Thayetmyo. 



Mr. Oates says : " This is not a common Swift. I observed a 

 large flock one evening, and managed to shoot three. I have seen 

 it subsequently on a few occasions, but owing to the suddenness 

 of its appearance and its extremely swift flight, it is almost im- 

 possible to procure specimens. Two birds, one a female, the other 

 not sexed, shot at Inlay on the 25th February, measured — 



"Length, 7'25; expanse, 17; tail, from vent, 3*25 and 3*3; 

 wings, 7'2 and 7*3; bill, from gape, 0*82; width of gape, 08 ; 

 tarsi, 0-42 and 0'48. 



" The irides were brown ; eyelids, pinkish grey ; bill, black ; 

 inside of mouth, fleshy ; feet, pinkish ; claws, dark horny." 



He adds : " Since shooting the specimens above referred to, 

 I have seen this Swift several times. It may be known by its 

 enormous expanse and very short tail. It is very seldom that it 

 flies sufficiently near the ground to be shot. I have not heard it 

 utter any cry." 



The Thayetmyo birds correspond well with specimens from 

 Tenasserim and from Takow and Amoy, China. The birds vary 

 a good deal in size : Length, from 6- 7 5 to 7"5 ; wings, 7 to 

 7-5 ; tail, 3 to nearly 3*4. The head and nape are a more or less 

 dark sepia brown ; there is a black triangular spot in front of 

 the eye, and a narrow albescent line above this extending to the 

 middle of the upper margin of the eye, scarcely visible, except in 

 the fresh bird or in very good specimens. A white band, about 

 0-4 inch in width, traverses the rump, the feathers having brown 

 shafts. The rest of the back wings, tail, and upper tail coverts, 

 black or blackish brown. The feathers of the back with exces- 

 sively narrow, pale, margins, or faint traces of these. Traces of 



