Catalogue of mammals and birds of Burma / by the late E. Blyth ; with a memoir, and portrait of the author.
- Edward Blyth
- Date:
- 1875
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Catalogue of mammals and birds of Burma / by the late E. Blyth ; with a memoir, and portrait of the author. Source: Wellcome Collection.
159/202 (page 129)
![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 in 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 (Eulabes) succeed so admirably. [Thayet Myo, Karen nee, Tonghoo, Bangoon (WB.). 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. E. 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. Bpchaxga atea (J. 278). Muscicapa atra, Hermann, if distinct from B. macrocerca of Java; Ibis, 1872, p. 119. Arakan. [Tonghoo, Karen nee, Rangoon ( W. B.). Muscicapa atra is Hermann’s title for the South Indian bird, which is invariably smaller than that of Northern and Eastern India. D. macrocercus, Vieillot=jE’. longus, Tem., pertains to the Javan bird alone; a distinct form. Some Burrnan examples * cf. Ibis, 1860, p. 99. 9](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29311986_0159.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
