PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 213 
the eye to the cheeks; a stripe above and a patch below 
the eye, together with the chin and throat, bright orange. 
Remainder of upper plumage dark green, tinged on the top 
of the head with blue; the outer web of most wing quills 
bluish-green, the outer primaries and the inner webs of the 
remaining quills black with white inner margins. Hind cheeks, 
ear coverts, and sides of neck bluish; a small crimson patch 
on the lower throat fringed behind with orange. The bases 
of the throat feathers are black. Lower parts from breast 
pale green, often with a bluish tinge. 
Bill black ; iris red-brown ; legs and feet coral-red. 
Length 6 ; wing 3°1 ; tail 1-4 ; tarsus *75 ; bill from gape ° 85. 
Distribution —Peculiar to Ceylon. It replaces the last 
species in the damp parts of the low-country, where it is 
commonest, and is found in the hills up to about 4,000 feet. 
It also extends locally into the dry zone, except in the arid 
maritime districts. It is, however, occasionally found in the 
Jafina peninsula. 
Habits, &c.—Like the last species, this bird is common in 
gardens and compounds, but in the north and east it is rather 
more partial to wild fruit trees in the forest. The call is 
quicker and sharper than that of the Coppersmith. The 
breeding season is from about March to June. The nest is 
the usual small round hole in the dead branch of a living tree. 
The eggs resemble those of the last species, but are slightly 
smaller, averaging *9 by °65. 
Order ANISODACTYLI, 
In the classification adopted by Blanford, who in this respect 
follows Gadow, the above order comprises five sub-orders : 
Coracie—Rollers ; Meropes—Bee-eaters ; Halcyones—King- 
fishers ; Bucerotes—Hornbills ; and Upwpe—Hoopoes. This 
order thus comprises birds which in outward appearance seem 
to have little in common, but all have the same structure of 
palate, that known as desmognathous, a hallux or hind toe is 
always present, while the three front toes are more or less 
joined at the base. 
All members of the order lay white eggs in a nest hole, 
which may be hollowed out either in a tree or in the ground. 
and in all cases the young when hatched are naked. 
4 6(5)20 

