1002 

 SOME MAYMYO BIRDS. 



BY 



Major H. H. Harington. 



Maymyo, the principal Hill Station of Burma, is situated about 

 40 miles east of Mandalay on the edge of the Shan Hills, and is 

 about 3,500 feet above sea-level. The country in the immediate 

 vicinity of the station consists of a series of swampy hollows 

 divided by low ridges covered for the most part by stunted oak and 

 chestnut forest interspersed with patches of bracken. Many of 

 these swamps have been drained, and numerous rides cut through 

 the jungle and the station generally improved. From an ornitho- 

 logical point of view Maymyo is not very attractive, as many 

 of the more interesting birds so plentiful in other parts of the 

 Shan States seem to be wanting. 



However, the country to the west of Maymyo and on the Ghats 

 looks very promising, being more varied from the endless sameness 

 of the jungles immediately round Maymyo itself, and I have hopes 

 on some future occasion of being able to manage a bit of birds' 

 nesting between Mandalay and Maymyo. 



Early in April 1910 I was ordered up to Maymyo with four 

 Companies of my Regiment for musketry, and so had hopes of 

 getting a few good eggs. With the exception of finding the 

 breeding haunts of the Burmese Jay (G. leucotis), and a nest 

 of B. liventer, I was not very successful. 



We left Mandalay on the 1 1th April, and took four days for our 

 march up. Owing to the heat and early marching I did not have 

 much inclination or chance of indulging in bird's nesting until we 

 reached the plateau. 



On our arrival we were ordered out to Enlya, seven miles south- 

 east of Maymyo, and it was here I did most of my collecting. The 

 country was very disappointing and bird life not at all varied, also 

 live or six hours a day musketry did not give much opportunity of 

 getting further afield and trying new ground. 



I have not included the migratory birds, only mentioning those 

 actually noted during the breeding season, and no doubt there are 



