Drongos. J29 



cuius paradiseus, L.) is based on Brisson's Cuculus cristatus siamensis, 

 founded on a drawing by Poivre of a Siamese specimen, and should therefore 

 denote the ordinary Tenasserim bird, which is identical with the Bhimrdj of 

 the Calcutta bird-dealers. As observed iD captivity, this species has astonish- 

 ing powers of mimicry.* I had one which imitated the fine song of the 

 Shama ( Cittocincla macroura) to perfection ; also the crowing of cocks, and 

 every other sound produced by domestic poultry, the cawing of crows, the 

 notes of various other wild birds, the bleating of calves, the cry of a dog 

 being whipped, mewing of cats, etc. ; but I do not remember to have heard 

 one sing in the wild state. Mason, however, mentions its loud, flute-like 

 notes, and remarks of one that used to come at sunset every evening, and 

 perch on a bough near his dwelling in Dong-yan; "there it would sit and 

 pour forth an incessant strain of melody for half an hour at a time." As 

 seen alive, it presents a very different appearance from the stuffed specimens 

 exhibited in museums, the hackled feathers of the neck showing to advantage. 

 When tamed it is very fearless and familiar, and may be suffered to have its 

 liberty in country places. It preys with avidity on small birds and other 

 animals. But with all its extraordinary faculty of imitating sounds, the 

 Bhimrdj never attempts to articulate human speech, in which some examples 

 of the hill maina {JEulabes) succeed so admirably. 



[Thayet Myo, Karen nee, Tonghoo, Rangoon (W. JR.). These examples 

 agree with the Siam bird. An individual from Tonghoo, obtained by Major 

 Lloyd, has the outer pair of rectrices feathered along the whole length of the 

 inner side of the shaft. This is found occasionally to occur in individuals of 

 many species of Dissemurus. JE. intermedins, Lesson, is founded on some 

 species, with the outer pair of rectrices fully webbed. Malabar in- 

 dividuals sometimes exhibit the same peculiarity. In D. megarhynchus it 

 is normal. On the other hand, D. lophorhinus sometimes has the inner web 

 wanting, except at the extremity of the outer rectrices.] 



*440. Buchanga atea (J. 278). 

 Muscicapa atra, Hermann, if distinct from B. macrocerca of Java; Ibis, 1872, p. 119. 



Arakan. 



[Tonghoo, Karen nee, Eangoon ( W. JR.). Muscicapa atra is Hermann's 

 title for the South Indian bird, which is invariably smaller than that of 

 Northern and Eastern India. B. macrocercus, Vieillot=J£ longus, Tern., 

 pertains to the Javan bird alone ; a distinct form. Some Burman examples 



* cf. Ibis, 1860, p. 99. 



