NOTES ON SOME BURMESE BIRDS. 317 



fisheries are obliged to submit to the heavy tolls levied by these 

 voracious birds. No ordinary amount of frightening will drive 

 them away. In a fishery, not more than three acres in extent 

 and a seething mass of fish, I have seen what I computed at the 

 time to be not less than 200 Adjutants of both species and. a 

 far greater number of Pelicans. 



941.— Threskiornis melanocephalus, L. 



The White Ibis is tolerably numerous in the plains intersected 

 by tidal creeks. In the hot weather it goes in rather largo 

 flocks, but in the rains it is found in pairs. I have not been 

 able to find the nest. A male, shot on the 1st of August, had 

 the long plumes of the tertiaries only half grown. The testes 

 were very large ; the iris was brown ; the inside of the 

 mouth, dark bluish-black ; the bill, black ; the lower eyelid, 

 flesh coloured ; its edge, the upper lid, and the whole head and 

 neck dark bluish black ; legs and toes, glossy black ; claws, 

 dull black. 



942.— Geronticus papillosus, Tern. 



This bird is rather rare ; a pair only being occasionally seen 

 in some half dry tank or water-course in the Pegu plain. 



980. — Larus brunneicephalus, Jerdon. 



This Gull is not at all uncommon in the Sittang River, during 

 the winter months. 



A female, obtained on the 7th April in winter plumage, and 

 a male shot on the 13th of the same month in summer plu- 

 mage, had the iris stone yellow ; the bill, legs, inside of mouth 

 and the edges of the eyelids, deep red ; claws, horny black. 



In addition to the above sea birds, I have obtained in the 

 Sittang a huge Gull and a Black Tern with long and deeply fork- 

 ed tail. These I cannot identify, and I have not yet been 

 able to send them to Mr. Hume for examination. 



982.— Sterna caspia, Pall. 



On the 3rd of June there was a brisk gale of wind and rain 

 in the Sittang River near Kayasoo, and a pair of these fine 

 Terns passed my boat. I shot them both. They are the only 

 birds of this species I have seen. 



Both the birds were males still in winter plumage, that is to 

 say, the whole head was streaked black and white. The testes of 

 both were very small and possibly they were in immature 

 plumage. They measured : Length, 20 ; 20"2 ; expanse, 40*5 ; 



