14 Lieut. W. V, Lcggc on the Distribution of 



sects, these Bee-caters congregate in large flocks over the Fort 

 of Galle, uttering their curious notes and wheeling round and 

 round in circles, out of which they dart every instant into the 

 hosts of creatures which surround them. Of Kingfishers, 

 Halcyon capensis, H. smyrnensis, Alcedo bengalensis, and 

 Ceryle rudis are all that a most diligent search has rewarded 

 me with. Halcyon capensis affects for the most part river- 

 banks, generally betraying its whereabouts by its loud dis- 

 cordant cries. Ceryle rudis is plentiful on the Gindurah 

 river and its tributaries, and breeds in Februaiy in the clayey 

 banks, excavating a high vault at the end of the hole, and 

 laying generally four eggs ; the young, which differ from the 

 adult in having the black pectoral band complete, remain in 

 the nest for some time after they are able to fly, and, when 

 they do come forth from their hiding-place, are often to be 

 seen sitting huddled together on the grassy bank of the river. 

 Tockus gingalensis ranges from the highest down to the 

 lowland forests, frequenting the tallest trees in them, and is 

 more numerous in the latter than in the mountains or in any 

 part of Ceylon that I have as yet explored. Paleeornis alex- 

 andri, P. rosa, and P. calthropce are the Parrakeets of this 

 region ; the former is only a straggler and is found in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea. P. rosa is numerous from the low 

 country up to the highest parts of the Morowa Korle, being 

 found in the greatest numbers in the intermediate hills. 

 Layard^sParrakeet is more abundant in the Morowa- Korle and 

 the Leori-King forests than anywhere else in the island, and, 

 like most of the Ceylon birds, ranges down to a lower ele- 

 vation here than in other parts. I found it a few mouths ago 

 in great numbers in the intermediate valleys of the Gindurah 

 river, at a height of only 200 or 300 feet above the sea. They 

 are very fond of thick groves in the forests, and in the morn- 

 ing, when feeding on their favourite fruits and berries, are very 

 tame ; towards evening they become very restless, and are 

 constantly on the wing, settling in little flocks on the tops of 

 the highest trees, roaming over the surrounding forests, as P. 

 rosa docs in the coffee-districts, and dashing up and down the 

 mountain- valleys with amazing rapidity. Our little Lorikeet, 



