Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 449 



Borassus-growing districts, commencing at Chilaw sparingly, 

 and increasing in numbers till its knocking resounds from 

 almost every palmirah tope in the Jaffna peninsula. In these 

 trees it likewise breeds, excavating large holes in the male trees, 

 they being generally softer than the female. 



In the jungle and among the cocoa-nut plantations of the 

 south and central portion of the island it is entirely replaced by 



188. Brachypternus Ceylonus, Forster. Kadralhy Cing. ; 

 sometimes Keberella, Cing. 



— which is peculiar to Ceylon, and very common in the low 

 country. Dr. Kelaart also characterizes it as " found in great 

 abundance at Nuwera Elia.^^ In habits it precisely resembles 

 the preceding. Irides red-brown. Its call is a shrill, stridulous 

 scream, often uttered during its flight, which is maintained by 

 short, rapid jerks, repeated at considerable intervals. 



189. Brachypternus Stricklandi, Layard. 



I procured a solitary specimen of this new Woodpecker at 

 Gillymalle; it proved a female; but Mr.Thwaites having forwarded 

 a large number of both sexes from Kandy, I am enabled now to 

 describe it fully. Length about 11 in., of closed wing 5^ in.; 

 tail 4| in. ; bill If in. ; tarsi 1 in. 



General colour of back scarlet-maroon, each feather being 

 maroon edged with scarlet ; the filamentous feathers on the lower 

 portion of the back near the tail-coverts (which with the tail are 

 brown) are brilliant scarlet. Wing primaries of a lighter brown 

 than the tail-feathers, the outer webs margined maroon, changing 

 into scarlet. Inner webs of the secondaries marked with four 

 large circular white spots ; the interior primaries have but three 

 spots, the middle two spots, the outside of all but one. The 

 feathers of the breast and neck chiefly buff with an albescent 

 centre and dark brown edge, giving these portions a scaly ap- 

 pearance, which is lost on the sides and belly, where it merely 

 assumes a mottled irregular form. Chin white, with five distinct 

 very dark brown lines down it. Head of female brown, with 

 numerous good- sized white ocelli (in the male this portion is 

 brilliant scarlet), the feathers over the nostrils light brown ; a 

 streak of the same colour forms an eyebrow. Bill light corneous ; 

 legs bluish. Irides red-brown. 



In habits this species resembles B, Ceylonus and aurantius. 

 The natives discriminate between it and the former, and tell me 

 that it keeps more to jungle than palm trees. 



I dedicate it to the memory of the esteemed naturalist, whose 

 early loss after my acquaintance with him I have never ceased 

 to deplore. 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. xiii. 29 



