Sabaragamuwa Province, Ceylon. 349 



district. On the first occasion I found it, it was being 

 tormented by Drongos that actually pecked it to death. 



40. CoCCYSTES JACOBINUS ( Lcggc, B. of C. p. 246). 



I have met with it only in the dry zone^ in the plains ex- 

 tending towards the south. 



41. CoCCYSTES COROMANDUS (Leggc, B. of C. p. 249). 



I obtained a single specimen of this Cuckoo during the 

 N.E. monsoon, at 2300 feet altitude, in the Balangoda 

 district. 



42. EUDYNAMIS HONORATA (LcggC, B. of C. p. 251). 



An abundant low-country species, but rarely found above 

 1000 feet. It breeds in the country, depositing its eggs in 

 the nests of the Black Crow. 



This is, without exception, the most noisy bird in the 

 country, and during the breeding-season its cry is most 

 irritating and monotonous. 



43. Phcenicophaes pyrrhocephalus (Legge, B. of C. 

 p. 255, pi. xii.). 



An endemic species, rarely found above 3000 feet in this 

 province, and more abundantly at low levels on the confines 

 of the dry zone. I obtained some young birds just able to 

 fly at a place called Kurugangmodera, and found both parent- 

 birds taking an active part in feeding the young ones. This 

 beautiful Cuckoo is the only gregarious one of the family, so 

 far as I am aware, in Ceylon. 



44. Zanclostomus viridirostris (Legge, B. of C. p. 258). 

 Distinctly a dry-zone bird. It occurs on the north in the 



Kegalla district, where, up to 1500 feet, it is not uncommon. 

 Again, towards the east, and right down to the base of the 

 Morowak Korah hills, it is fairly plentiful, and ascends as 

 far as Balangoda, where I have obtained it at 2000 feet. 



45. Centropus rufipennis (Legge, B. of C. p. 260). 

 Common all over the province, except perhaps at the altitude 



of 5000 feet and over. It avoids the deep forests, preferring 

 the outskirts, gardens, and fields, where it is always 

 abundant. 



SER. VII. VOL. IV. 2 b 



