18 Lieut. W. V. Legge on the Distribution of 



great numbers, in the brown stage, in October, and affects by 

 choice the banks of rivers. It is very plentiful along the 

 Gindurah. Mijiagra azurea is common in all jungles up to 

 3000 feet ; but I have have not met with a Cyornis in all my 

 wanderings, although C. jerdoni^- is found throughout the 

 western province. I have only once met with Leucocerca 

 albofrontata, procuring it at Baddcgamme near Galle. Mijio- 

 lestes cinereocapilla is found in the Morowa-Korle and Lion- 

 King forests down to 2000 feet, where also Eumyias sordida 

 is tolerably numerous. The young of this species are plu- 

 maged like those of Cyornis jerdoni. An individual I pro- 

 cured last August in the Lion-King hills has the upper sur- 

 face and wing-coverts brown, Avith buff tips to the feathers ; 

 the chin is buff, and the lower surface, as in the adult, min- 

 gled with yellowish grey feathers. 



Pitta brachyura, one of our most widely distributed cold- 

 weather visitants, is exceedingly abundant, and heard in the 

 mornings and evenings wherever there is a bit of scrub or 

 jungle : they aflect low " cheena jungle " in preference to damp 

 woods ; and on wet days theii' whistle may be heard at any 

 hour. Oreocincla spiloptera is distributed through the Mo- 

 rowa-Korle jungle ; and I have no doubt that Turdulus wardii 

 is also an inhabitant of the same part. Alcippe nigrifi'ons, 

 Dumetia albogularis, and Pomatorhinus melanurus, wdtli Lay- 

 ardia rufescens, are all common birds in the lower hilly coun- 

 try, and, with the exception of the little " Pig-bird,""^ are nu- 

 merous in the hills. This curious little skulking babbler is 

 chiefly found about bushes at the edge of " cheena ^^ jungle, 

 and darts along in a " follow-my-leader " style from one bit 

 of cover to the other with great perseverance. I have found 

 it in the central province in the upper parts of Doombera, at 

 an elevation of 2500 feet. Alcippe nigrifrons is wonderfully 

 abundant, particularly in bamboo jungles, its favourite abode; 

 it is frequently found in company with Pomatorhinus mela- 

 nurus, which affects the same localities. The curious mas- 



* In luy note on this bird in J. A. S. (Ceylon branch), 1870-71, the 

 female is stated to be brighter than the male. This is a printer's error, 

 it should read liyhter. 



