BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 85 



223 ter,— Arachnothera aurata, Blyth. 



A good many species of this genus are found within our limits, 

 and though several of these occur only towards the south of 

 the Tenasserim Provinces, it may he convenient to state concisely, 

 how they may be most readily distinguished — 



Besides these, there is A. Thayrii, Blyth, whether distinct 

 from aurata or not, I cannot say ; non vidi.* 



In regard to the present species, Mr. Oates remarks : "Very 

 common on the Pegu Hills, and not uncommon in the plains ; I 

 lately saw a specimen on the banks of the Irrawaddy, near 

 Thayetmyo. It is not met with in large quantities till the 

 Evergreen Forests are reached : it has a curious habit of stretching 

 out its neck when perching, to such an extent as to appear 

 about to over-balance itself. A male that I shot measured : 

 Length, 7*1 j wing, 3-25; bill, from gape, 1*6 ■ & female 

 measured, length, 6'45; expanse, 9*5; tail, from vent, 1*7 ■ wing, 

 2-95; bill, from gape, T48; tarsus, - 8; bill, black; margin of 

 lower mandible, yellow ; inside of mouth and claws, yellow ; iris, 

 brown ; eyelids, plumbeous ; legs and feet, waxy orange/'' 



This species is very close to A. magna, but differs apparently in 

 its smaller size, sex for sex, in the greater narrowness of the 

 striations of the under-surface, and the almost entire absence of 

 these on the back. The shoulder of the wing is also, Mr. Blyth 

 originally pointed out, somewhat brighter-colored than in magna. 



* No specimen of this appears to be in the Calcutta Museum. 



