230 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Bill curved, and not surmounted with a casque; in adult 
males it is yellowish-white, with a black patch at the base of 
the upper mandible from the gape to the nostril, and another 
indistinct patch beneath the lower mandible. Females have 
the bill grayish-black, with a long white patch on the lower 
portion of the upper mandible. Iris red; orbital skin and 
eyelashes black ; legs and feet greenish lead colour. 
Length 23; wing 8; tail9; tarsus1:7; billfrom gape 4°25. 
Females slightly smaller, and with shorter bills. 
Distribution.—Peculiar to Ceylon ; fairly common all over 
the low-country wherever there is forest. It ascends the hills 
to about 4,000 feet. 
Habits —A rather shy forest bird, keeping to the tops of 
trees. The flight is slow and dipping. The cry is rather 
a harsh laugh, starting with the syllable ‘‘ kaa,’’ which is often 
repeated, at first slowly, then quicker and quicker. It breeds 
from April to August in the fashion peculiar to the family. 
The two or three dingy white eggs measure about 1°62 by 1°25. 
Sub-order UPUPAE. 
Family UpupIp&. 
Genus Upupa, 
Hoopoes. 
The Hoopoes are confined to a single family and genus, 
which ranges through the temperate and tropical parts of the 
Old World. In structure and nesting habits, though not in 
appearance, they are closely related to the Hornbills. They 
are all birds of moderate size, about one foot in length. The 
bill is long and slender, and curves from the base. There is 
a large conspicuous crest on the crown, folded or erected at 
will. The wings are rounded, the tail moderate in length, and 
the legs short. Hoopoes feed on the ground, scratching and 
probing for grubs and insects. The females, though not walled 
into nest holes like the Hornbills, sit very close, and are fed 
entirely by the males during the breeding period. Only one 
species occurs in Ceylon. 
