BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 73 



I therefore unhesitatingly suppress burmanicus. In most speci- 

 mens the distinctions above pointed out hold good more or less ; 

 but this is all that can be said, and this will not warrant a specific 

 separation. The type of my supposed species was a male 

 sent me by Captain Feilden, and measured in the flesh : Length, 

 10 - 7 ; wing, 525 ; bill, at front, 1 - 15. 



Mr. Oates, however, has sent smaller specimens. He remarks : 

 " I have observed this bird only on the eastern slopes of the 

 Pegu Hills, and I think it is confined to the Evergreen Forests. 

 It is not uncommon, goes in pairs, is remarkably silent, and climbs 

 small trees and bamboos. The head, tip of tail, and abdomen are 

 much smeared with some gum, or rather, as I fancy, with honey. 

 The contents of the stomach of three specimens were black ants, 

 and a small yellow bee-like insect; the latter in considerable 

 quantities. It is possibly with the honey of these insects that 

 the plumage gets smeared. In the mouth of one just shot I 

 found a small leach. These specimens that I shot varied as 

 follows : — 



"Length, 9-75 to 9*9; expanse, 15*25 to 16; tail, from 

 vent, 3 to 3*15; wing, 4 - 8 ; bill, from gape, 1'2> ; tarsus, 088 

 to 0-95. 



"The irides were brown ; eyelids, plumbeous ; bill, dark brown, 

 nearly black, plumbeous at base of lower mandible ; inside of 

 mouth, rosy fleshy ; legs and feet, greyish brown ; claws, horn 

 color." 



Captain Feilden says : " The Chestnut Woodpecker does not 

 appear to be confined to any particular locality. I have found 

 them everywhere, from clumps of bamboos in the middle of cul- 

 tivation to deep forests of the largest trees ; but on the whole, I 

 think, they prefer rather open bamboo jungle. The note is not 

 unlike that of Gecinus striolatus. It is difficult to learn anything 

 of their habits, as they glide about among the bamboos, and rarely 

 show themselves. They are stupidly tame." 



183.— Tiga Shorii, Vigors. 



A large number of specimens, in my opinion all referable to 

 this species, have been sent me by Captain Feilden and Mr. 

 Oates, who both want to make three species out of them, found- 

 ing their distinctions partly on size ; partly on the color of the 

 crest and forehead in the male ; partly on the comparative size, 

 brightness or dullness of the black markings on the side of the 

 head, chin, throat, and breast ; partly on the presence or absence 

 of the earthy brown tint in these latter parts ; and partly on 

 the size and character of the spottings or lineations on the 

 black head of the females. 



After having very carefully examined all these birds, as also 

 a very large series from other localities, I am bound to say that 



