348 Mr. F. Lewis on the Land-birds of 



is rarely seen. In point of numbers 1 have found this 

 Barbet more abundant in the dry zone, but it is not speci- 

 ally restricted thereto. 



The eggs are always laid in holes in trees, and are pure 

 white with a creamy white gloss. 



34. Megal^ma flavifrons (Legge, B. of C. p. 212, pi. x. 

 fig. 2). 



An indigenous and abundant species, common all over 

 the province. 



It breeds like M. zeylanica. Eggs white. 



35. Xanthol^ma rubricapilla (Legge, B. of C. p. 215, 

 pi. xi. fig. 1). 



Indigenous, and up to about 3000 feet nearly as common 

 as Meyalcema flavifrons. It breeds in holes in dead branches 

 of soft-wood trees. Eggs very round and glossy white. 



36. Xanthol.^ma h^macephala (Legge, B. of C. p. 218). 

 Strictly a dry- zone species. It occurs in the Kegalla 



district towards the north-west, and again in the Kolonna 

 Korah towards the Tangalla district. 



37. CUCULUS SONNERATI (Lcggc, B. of C. p. 233). 



A rare dry- zone bird, occurring sparingly in plains below 

 the Rakwana bills. 



Recorded from South Konkan by Vidal (' Stray Feathers,' 

 1881, p. 54). 



38. HiERococcYX vARius (Leggc, B. of C. p. 240). 



A migrant, arriving in the province late in October and 

 departing again in May. During its stay it is particularly 

 restless and noisy, and may be heard uttering its monotonous 

 and gamut-like cry at all times of the day, and often on 

 moonlight nights. 



It does not appear to confine itself to any particular 

 altitude or zone, as it is equally common through the low 

 country as well as the hills. 



39. SuRNicuLUs LUGUBRis (Leggc, B. of C. p. 243). 



I have onlv twice obtained this Cuckoo, in the Balangoda 



