DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN CEYLON. 7 
north-west belt, but in the former area there are some notable 
omissions, to which I shall call attention later on ; while if we 
examine the large portion of the Island which is classed as the 
dry forest area, we shall find the Carnatic forms gradually 
diminishing as we go from north to south, while the Malabar 
and peculiar species diminish as the country spreaas away 
from the Kandyan frontier. 
I wish at the outset of my summary to state that in it I 
have confined myself mainly to birds of weak powers of flight 
and of limited range. My object is to show the affinities and 
differences between our birds and those of Malabar and the 
Carnatic, and in some cases with those of the Himalayas. 
Migrant birds and those which have a wide Indian range 
will not receive notice where they do not afford evidence of 
peculiar distribution. 
As regards the distribution in Ceylon of the various species, 
my information rests upon Legge’s “ Birds of Ceylon ”’ and 
my own observations. As regards India, it is taken from the 
tabulation in Dr. Blanford’s paper and the ranges given in 
the volumes on “ Birds” in the “ Fauna of British India.” 
As I cannot pretend to complete knowledge even in Ceylon, 
it is quite probable that there are many more inaccuracies in 
the Indian distribution, where my knowledge is solely depend- 
ent upon books, in which the information regarding the range 
of each species is more general than detailed. 
Beginning with the Passerine birds, our two species of Crow 
are found all over India, but in Ceylon the Gray-necked Crow— 
Crone splendens—so common in Colombo, is worth notice, as it 
is probably a new comer. It is found only round the coast, 
and whereas in Legge’s time it was not found in the south of 
the Island between Kalutara and Arugam Bay, it has now, 
to my knowledge, spread from Kalutara southwards and 
eastwards as far as Hambantota, and possibly all round 
the Island. 
The Ceylon Magpie, found in the hills—Cissa ornata— 
belongs to a Himalayan genus, otherwise not found between 
the headquarters of the genus and our Island. This species is 
peculiar to Ceylon, where it is confined to the higher elevations 
of the bill-country. 
