(1735) Microhierax coerulescens burmanicus.
THE BURMESE RED-LEGGED FALCONET.
Microhierax coerulescens burmanicus Kirke-Swann, Syn. List Accip., p. 116 (1920) (Thayetmyo, Burma). Microhierax eutolmus. Blanf. & Oates, iii, p. 432 (part.).
Vernacular names. Doun-oo-hnouk (Burma).
Description. Differs from the typical form in having much broader white forehead and white collar whilst the breast is nearly always much whiter, generally pure white.
Colours of soft parts as in the Himalayan form.
Measurements. Wing, 91 to 99 mm., 105 to 109 mm.
Distribution. Burma to North Tenasserim ; Shan States, Siam and Annam.
Nidification. Bingham took four eggs of this bird on the 14th April from a hole on the underside of a decayed bough "of a mighty Pymma-tree," shooting the female which new from the hole. The eggs, which lay on a thick mass of fragments of dragon-flies, were dirty yellowish-white in colour, much stained and in shape broad ovals. Bingham likens the texture to that of eggs of Taccocua and Gentropus. The four eggs vary between 33.5 x 22.3 and 27.9 x 21.4 mm. An egg sent me from Perak agrees well with these eggs, measuring 29.2 x 23.8 and having the same curious texture, rather Centropus-type but really sui generis and unlike any other egg I know of. It was taken from a Barbet's nest-hole on the 11th February.
Habits. Apparently very similar to those of the next bird.
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