South-eastern Subdivision of Southern Ceylon. 281 



hillsj where I had once observed them durmg my explora- 

 tions (Ibisj 1874j p. 13). They had evidently been hawking 

 at an immense elevation, probably equal to that of the south- 

 ern-province hills, and had been driven down by the heavy 

 rains. 



19. Caprimulgus spilocercus, Gray. 



20. Caprimulgus asiaticus, Latham. 



Both numerous in various parts, the latter mostly in the 

 open sandy wastes and scrubs along the sea-board ; but the 

 former is equally abundant, both here and in the Wellaway 

 Korle. Its remarkable note at once tells the tale of its pre- 

 is sence in a locality. 



21. Harpactes fasciatus (Forster). 



Occurs in the forest on the banks of the Kirinde Ganga, but 

 is less frequent than I anticipated. 



22. Merops viridis, Linn. 



Abundant both in the maritime region and in the interior. 

 This species breeds in the sand-hills of Hambantotta. Its 

 range in Ceylon is from the maritime regions of the north, 

 north-Avest, and east, down the whole of the east side of the 

 island, and round the south-east as far as Tangalle. I have 

 never seen it on the southern half of the west coast ; but Mr. 

 Holdsworth has observed it at Colombo, although I never saw 

 it during a three years' residence in that part. The blue 

 throat {vide Mr. Holdsworth's catalogue, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 422) 

 appears to me to be a marked characteristic of maturity ; this 

 part in the young bird is yellowish green, surrounded by the 

 pale green of the adjacent parts of the fore neck, the throat- 

 band being at that period ill defined and narrower than later 

 on. I traced this bird all along the Hambantotta and Ba- 

 dulla road to the foot of the hills. 



23. Merops philippinus, Linn. 



Not so numerous as the above. I observed it a good deal 

 near tanks in the Wellaway Korle. It is found all over the 

 island in the season, affecting the highest pattus of the cen- 

 tral province. 



