PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 271 
PALHORNIS CALTHROPA (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 256 ; 
Legge, p. 177). 
Layard’s Paroquet. 
Description.—Male : Forehead, lores, and a patch round the 
eye green ; rest of head, nape, and upper back bluish-gray ; 
lower back and upper tail coverts bluer ; a broad emerald 
collar on the neck ; chin and a broad stripe on the side of the 
neck dusky black; lower parts bright green; under tail 
coverts yellowish ; wing coverts green, the smaller secondary 
coverts rather yellower; wing quills as in the preceding 
species, only the pale edges are not so noticeable ; tail feathers 
a beautiful deep blue with yellow tips, the outer feathers 
washed and edged with green. 
Bill, upper mandible coral-red with a yellowish tip, lower 
dusky red; iris greenish or yellowish-white ; legs and feet 
greenish or lead-coloured. 
_ Females are of a duller green on the face, and the upper 
mandible is black. Young birds are green throughout, except 
the tail, which is blue. 
Length about 12; wing 5°5; tail 6; tarsus °6; bill from 
cere *7. Females a little smaller. 
Distribution —Peculiar to Ceylon. The common Paroquet 
of the hill-country, but rather local, and in some localities 
replaced by the Blossom-headed Paroquet. It also extends 
into the forests at the foot of the hills. 
Habits, &c.—A forest bird feeding on jungle fruits, such as 
wild figs and wild cinnamon, also on flower buds. It is found 
in fair-sized flocks on the outskirts of woods, in open spaces 
in the jungle, and in the wooded gorges of patanas. The cry 
is harsher than that of the last species. The breeding season 
lasts from January to May; the nest and eggs are of the 
usual type. 
The nest hole is often in dead coconut trees, sometimes high 
up in big forest trees. The eggs are from one to three in 
number, the texture is dull and rather soft and porous. 
Average size about °97 by °78. 
Note.—Palzornis columboides (The Blue-winged Paroquet) is 
said to have been recorded from Ceylon, but probably in error. 
It is a hill species, more or less of the same type as P. calthropex, 
