Birds' in Southern Ceylon. 21 



quently shot with hazel-brown eyes (the normal colour being 

 sombre red) ; and though I have not been able to detect any 

 signs of immaturity in their plumage^ they must necessarily 

 be the young of the year. 



Phyllornis malabaricus is by no means uncommon ; it is 

 an inhabitant of the forests. I have obtained it from near 

 Galle up to 3000 feet in the Singha- Rajah hills. This district 

 was the first in which I found this Bulbul, though I have seen 

 a specimen from the central province. It has not the clear 

 whistling notes of the universally distributed P. jerdoni ; and 

 as its yellow forehead cannot be distinguished well in the dis- 

 tance, I believe it has been hitherto passed over in Ceylon by 

 those who have not paid attention to the voices of the different 

 species of this family. lora zeylonica is very numerous 

 throughout the low country of this province. I have speci- 

 mens in winter plumage with the iris grey, others in change 

 of dress with that, again, darker, and two in full breeding- 

 plumage (with the black back) which had the eye hazel-brown. 

 This latter circumstance must be looked upon as an abnormal 

 state of things, I imagine, unless the eye changes in this 

 species as it puts on its nuptial clothing. Concerning the 

 Warblers there is but little to note. Thamnobia fulicata is 

 much more numerous here than in the western province, ap- 

 pearing as if it increased gradually towards the south-east 

 coast, where it is so extremely abundant. Prinia socialis is 

 found in sugar-cane fields; and as I have found it on the moun- 

 tain patnas of the central province, it doubtless extends into 

 the hills of this part of the island as well. Kittacincla ma- 

 crura is rare in bamboo-jungles. Cisticola homalura, Blyth, 

 said to have been found in this district, has not yet come under 

 my notice, although the common species is abundant in grassy 

 deserted paddy-fields, and inhabits likewise the patnas of 

 the Morowa-Korle and Singha-Rajah forests. Drymoipus 

 validus is found in open bushy places, especially in clearings 

 made by the natives in the inland valleys for the purpose of 

 cultivation ; I have it also, identified by Lord Walden, from 

 near Colombo. My specimens range up to C^V' total length. 

 I have also Drymoipus jerdoni up to 5'9". The bill of D, 



