116 A FIRST LIST OP THE 



"Length, 6| inches; expanse, 7|; wing, 2§ ; tail, 3; bill, f, 

 5 inch high; tarsus, 1. 



" This interesting bird is very closely allied to Clirysomma 

 sinensis, for a young bird of which I at first mistook it. It 

 differs, however, in some important particulars, more especially 

 in the depth of the bill, in which it makes an approach to the 

 Paradoxomis group. The claws are more lengthened and less 

 curved than in that species. It will probably be considered 

 worthy of separation as a sub-genus. I found it frequenting 

 long grass in islands on the Irrawaddy River, in Upper Burmah. 



" It had partaken of ants and small coleoptera." 



Now, this description agrees perfectly with our birds, except 

 that the forehead and the streak over the eyes are white and not 

 hoary grey. As to the bills I have already remarked that they 

 do not differ in any way constantly from those of Indian birds, 

 and the same may be said of the claws. It is impossible to make 

 a second species out of these Thayetmyo birds, let alone a new 

 sub-genus. Can it be that a distinct species, altirostris, inhabits 

 this same limited locality? Observers on the spot must solve this 

 question. In the meantime all the birds sent by Captain 

 Feilden and Mr. Oates are positively sinensis and nothing else. 



Mr. Oates remarks : " These birds though common are not often 

 seen. They occasionally sing on a low tree with much vivacity. 

 I did not observe it on the hills. Specimens measured: Length, 

 6-8 to 7 ; expanse, 7'9 to 8*3 ; tail, from vent, 3*4 to 3'5 ; wings, 

 2" 5 to 2*6; bill, from gape, 06; tarsus, 1*0. 



" Irides, pale orange yellow ; eyelids, deep orange ; the edges, 

 tumid ; bill, black, yellowish at nostrils ; inside of mouth, yellow ; 

 feet, pale orange yellow ; claws, pinkish." 



389 Ms.— Alcippe Phayrei, Blyth. 



The specimens sent by Captain Feilden and Mr. Oates are 

 doubtless identical with that described by Blyth ( Journal, 

 Asiatic Society, 1845, Vol. XIV, p. 601) in the following 

 words : — 



" Alcippe Phayrei is most allied to A. poiocepJiala (Jerdon), 

 but is distinguished by its much less rufescent hue, especially on 

 the tail and its upper and lower coverts, which are devoid of 

 -finch a tinge, or the upper tail coverts retain it only in a very 

 slight degree. Length about 5| inches, of wing 2f, and tail %\ ; 

 bill to gape, under | inch ; and tarsi, f inch. Upper parts, slightly 

 f ulvescent olive brown ; the crown, ashy ; and wings, particularly 

 the large alars, margined with somewhat deeper fulveseent ; lower 

 parts, fulveseent whitish, whitest on the throat and middle of the 

 belly ; bill, dusky above, below paler ; and legs light-colored ; 

 outermost tail feather, -f Tt an inch shorter than the middle ones ; 

 inhabits Arracan, where discovered by Captain Phayre." 



