J 862.] « Correspondence. 193 



provinces, tributary to Siam, who had been summoned on Govern- 

 ment business to Bangkok, declared it to be a bird belonging to his 

 district. He likewise declared that another bird, sold to me as the 

 female, smaller in size with brown plumage, to be really the female ; 

 though the size and colour of the two are entirely different. As 

 regards manners, however, and the peculiar cry of recognition when 

 a person whom they know is approaching, or is to give them food, 

 these are entirely similar. M. von Martens, the naturalist of the 

 Prussian expedition under Count Eulanburg, was of opinion that the 

 bird in question was the female of D. Crawfurdii. Still I should be 

 glad to obtain other proofs. If this bird belongs to the northern 

 (or rather eastern) Shan States, you, through Major Tickell or some 

 other friend at Moulmein, will be able to procure further informa- 

 tion. At Major Tickell's house I saw a living specimen of the bird ; 

 but the Major was absent during my visit." 



Extract from a letter from W. T. Blantoed, Esq. (written on his 

 voyage to Sues) to Mr. Blyth ; dated from Galle, May 30th, 1862. 



" I promised, if I could, to write you a few notes about the dis- 

 tribution of the Burmese animals, on my way from Calcutta to Galle. 

 I now hurriedly jot down the more important points which struck 

 me. 



" You know that Lower Pegu is distinguished from Upper Burma, 

 as regards climate, pretty much as Lower Bengal differs from the 

 Upper Gangetie plains ; but in a much greater degree : Pegu being 

 damper than Bengal ; Upper Burma dryer than the N. "W. provinces. 

 The great change takes place above our territories, and is most 

 strongly marked after passing Mendha. But a very considerable 

 alteration in the vegetation, and a corresponding one in the 

 Fauna, take place at a much lower point, and are perhaps first to be 

 noticed about Akouk-toung, a rocky promontory on the banks of the 

 Irawadi about 30 miles below Prome. A comparatively dry region, 

 however, stretches down the eastern flank of the Arakan hills, so far 

 as they form a high connected range, that is — to a little below the 

 parallel of Henzada ; and of this the Pauna of the range of hills 

 stretching to Cape Negrais is, in its principal features, essentially 

 Arakanese, the hills being covered with dark evergreen jungle. My 

 experience of both regions is mainly confined to the west side of the 

 Irawadi river. 



2 c 2 



