244 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
BATRACHOSTOMUS MONILIGER (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 196; 
Legge, p. 331). 
The Ceylonese Frogmouth. 
Description—Male: In a beautiful gray bird from the 
North-Central Province the general colour of the upper 
plumage is lichen-gray, mottled with soft black. The feathers 
of the crown and back end in black spots with a minute tip of 
white or buff; an indistinct white collar on the hind-neck ; 
the outer feathers of the scapulars almost entirely mottled 
white, with the same terminal black spots and white specks as 
on the crown feathers, the inner scapulars are pale only on the 
outer web. Some of the wing coverts have conspicuous white 
spots. Primary and outer secondary quills dull blackish- 
brown, notched with black or rufous on the outer web ; tail 
mottled gray with narrow wavy dark cross bars. Under 
surface the same mottled gray as the back, with an imperfect 
white gorget ; the abdomen much paler. Some birds, probably 
older, are less mottled and much more rufous. 
Females are reddish-brown with faint blackish mottlings, 
and have an indistinct white collar, sometimes wanting, on 
the hind-neck ; there are minute black tips to a few of the 
scapulars, and white spots on a few of the longer wing coverts ; 
the tail feathers bear traces of narrow dark bars. 
The feathers of the throat have sub-terminal black bars and 
white fringes ; a few similar feathers are scattered over the 
abdomen. 
Bill olive-brown, paler on the lower mandible ; iris dull 
yellow ; legs yellow or fleshy brown. 
Dimensions vary considerably ; length 7°75—9 ; wing 4° 3-5 ; 
tail 44°75 ; tarsus about 5; bill from gape about 1°4. 
Distribution.—Occurs in the heart of the jungle probably 
all over the Island, but very seldom seen. Specimens have 
been obtained from sea level to nearly 6,000 feet up. It is 
also found in the Wynaad and Travancore. 
Habits, &c.—A sluggish nocturnal bird frequenting thick 
bamboo jungle or dense forest growths. During the day it 
lies fast asleep perched across a branch with its bill turned 
