504. Pericrocotus cantonensis.
Swinhoe's Minivet.
Pericrocotus cantonensis, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, p. 42; Sharpe, S. F. iv, p. 211; Hume, S. F. v, p. 177; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iv, p. 84; Oates, S. F. x, p. 200; id. B. B. i, p. 243. Pericrocotus sordidus, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 284. Pericrocotus immodestus, Hume, S. F. v, p. 177 (1877); id. Cat. no. 277 ter; Bingham, S. F. ix, p. 173. Pericrocotus ? cinereus, Lafresn. apud Hume & Dav. S. F. vi, p. 212.
Coloration. Male. The forehead and anterior half of crown mingled white and brown ; lores black; hinder part of crown and nape, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts dark ashy brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts pale brown; greater wing-coverts tipped with white; wings dark brown, the secondaries with a whitish, half-concealed patch at base very indistinct; the two middle pairs of tail-feathers dark brown, the others brown at base, white elsewhere, the white increasing in extent towards the outer feathers; lower plumage pale earthy brown.
Female. Resembles the male closely, but has the crown and back a paler ashy brown and the wing-spot clearly indicated, well defined, and tinged with yellow.
Bill and legs black; inside of mouth flesh-colour; iris hazel {Swinhoe').
Length about 8; tail 3.7; wing 3.5; tarsus .55; bill from gape .75.
Distribution. Southern Pegu, where I procured this species in the cold weather near the town of Pegu; Tenasserim from Mergui southwards. Although Davison observed this bird only in Southern Tenasserim, there can be little doubt but that it occurs in the northern portion of this Division as well. Bingham obtained it in the Thoungyeen valley.
It is found throughout China, and is probably to some extent a migratory species.
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