FROM THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO. 



137 



Calcutta had proved thoroughly incapable and so timid that they 

 would not enter the forest. Such a course had this great disad- 

 vantage, that it necessarily restricted my enumeration of the 

 birds obtained to the limit of a mere list with localities. 



The bi rds were identified in India before they were brought to 

 this country ; but in order to ensure accuracy it was desirable 

 that they should be gone over by one thoroughly familiar with, 

 the subject, who would correct any errors of identification, 

 and be able also to direct attention to any birds presenting 

 features worthy of remark. I esteem myself fortunate in having 

 secured for these ends the services of Major Wardlaw Rarnsay, 

 who possesses an intimate acquaintance with the birds of Tenas- 

 serim. I have indicated the few observations he has recorded 

 by appending his name to them. 



In the collection only one bird, Butreron Cappelli, appears as 

 an addition to the fauna of Tenasserim ; but at the same time 

 the distribution of some of the species recorded in Messrs. 

 Hume and Davison's ' Birds of Tenasserim' has been extended. 

 While pointing out these few instances, I have not thought it 

 necessary to repeat the distribution of species already fully 

 recorded by these authors. 



Having been present in the islands only for the very short 

 periods already mentioned the list gives no information regarding 

 the migrations of species beyond recording the presence of well- 

 known migratory birds. Considering, however, the very different 

 climatic conditions which prevail in the islands during the two 

 monsoons, it is probable that the birds which frequent the 

 smaller and more exposed islets and islands during the north- 

 east monsoon congregate on the larger and more sheltered 

 islands until the strength of the storms of the south-west mon- 

 soon is past, — if they are not in many instances driven for shelter 

 to the mainland. Davison records that Halcyon chloris in 

 December kept entirely to the sea-coast and banks of the creeks ; 

 but that in June, after the rains had commenced, it became very 

 numerous about the gardens and even in the town of Mergui 

 itself*. 



Judging from my observations in the localities I have mentioned 

 (and I may state that I crossed King Island and Elphinstoue 



* Op. tit, p. 78. 



LTNN. JOURX. ZOOLOGY, VOL. XXI. 12 



