20 Lieut. W. V. Lcgge un the Distribution of 



Singha-Rajah forest on the upper Gindurah, at about 1000 feet 

 above the sea-level. Now and then it may be seen near the 

 edges of paths in the jungle or flying across open places ; but 

 this is quite the exception*. It is always found single or in 

 pairs, and does not seem to associate in small parties like its 

 smaller relative, Alcippe nigrifrons. Gari'ulax cinereifrons is 

 common in the upper forests of the province ; it is found in 

 parties of a considerable number, and is very shy, the whole 

 flock taking themselves off quickly, chattering, and following 

 one after the other, on being disturbed in the slightest degree. 

 I imagine it is confined to the dark and gloomy jungle of the 

 hills; I have generally found it in ravines, where it affects 

 underwood and feeds much on the ground, scratching up 

 leaves in search of its food. Hypsipetes neilgherie?isis is very 

 abundant from the Morowa-Korle and Singha-Rajahills down 

 to the low forests near Galle. It is plentiful also about the 

 secondary jungles and confined valleys between the forests 

 and the sea. It is a noisy bird, and does not often escape 

 observation as it flies to and fro across the narrow ravines, 

 settling on the extreme tops of trees and uttering its harsh 

 unmusical notes. Criniger ictericusf is numerous in forests 

 from the low country up to the coffee-estates; it is always found 

 about the smaller trees and shrubs in high jungle, and, besides 

 searching along the branches and among the leaves for larvae, 

 feeds on various berries and small fruit. Kelaartia penicillata 

 is a Bulbul which I have not succeeded in procuring from 

 the southern province ; I have never seen it in the district. 

 Rubigula melanictera is more numerous here than in any part 

 of Ceylon, frequenting native gardens, '^ Lantana " thickets, 

 bamboo jungle, and damp primeval forest. Birds are fre- 



* To my surprise I found this 'bird numerous in the jungle of the north- 

 east; specimens from that district are lighter in colour than southern 

 birds. 



t With regard to I\Ir. Iloldsworth's note on this bird (P. Z. S. 1872, 

 p. 450), he does not seem to be aware that there are large tracts of fine 

 primeval forest within twenty miles of Colombo. In such I found Cri- 

 niger ictericus, and not in districts " coimsting of paddy-Jielcls and cidticatcd 

 land." The face of nature is very changeable in Ceylon, and birds are 

 extremely local on that account. 



