^8 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



abundant, feeding on tlie fruit of the banian tree. It is migra- 

 tory, only appearing in the fruit season, and returning again 

 to the coast of India. 



The Tamuls and Cingalese apply the name of ^^ patchy -praa " 

 (Green Dove) and " bata-goya ^' indiscriminately to all our Tre- 

 rons. The words prad and goya are synonymous and used for 

 all pigeons. 



207. Treron Malabarica ? Jerdon. 



Var. Pompadoura, Gmel. (Brown's 111. PI. 19, 20.) 



I procured this species in abundance in the mountain zone, at 

 the top of the Balcaddua Pass, and at Ratnapoora. It feeds on 

 berries, and flies in large flocks. Our Ceylon race is slightly dif- 

 ferent from the true T. Malabarica, and I believe it to be the 

 origin of Brown's wretched figures (plates 19 & 20). My 

 lamented friend Mr. Strickland was satisfied with this view of 

 the case, and intended ofi'ering some remarks on these plates 

 and several others which represent Ceylonese birds, but which 

 have hitherto not been satisfactorily identified. I regret that I 

 have not a copy of the work to refer to, and detail as fully as my 

 memory serves me, the conclusions to which we came upon most 

 of them. .,, 



208. Carpophaga pusilla, Blyth, J. A. S. xviii. Mahavilla- 

 goya, Cing. Matabatagoya of the Cingalese to the north of 

 Kandy. Berg Duyven, Dutch ; lit. Hill Dove. 



Mr. Blyth separates this species and those from the Nilgiris 

 from TickelPs Columba sylvatica, under the name of C. pusilla. 

 Mr. Strickland was inclined to agree with him, but wished for a 

 larger series of specimens than those I had by me for compa- 

 rison. 



Our birds extend northward and southward into the low 

 country, but their great haunt is certainly the mountain zone, 

 though, from Dr. Kelaart's observations, it does not appear to 

 have been seen *^in very high lands,'' and the Mahavillagoya of 

 Nuwera Elia is another species, C. Torringtonii, Kelaart. 



They are very migratory, only appearing with the ripe fruit of 

 the banian, teak, and other trees, on which they feed : at this 

 time they congregate in hundreds in places where previously not 

 a specimen could be procured. vtgsfl 



209. Alsocomus puniceus, Tickell. Neeyang cobeya, Cing.'; 

 lit. Season Pigeon, from its being essentially migratorial. 



This bird is but rarely a visitant of our island ; I believe it ap- 



