94 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



THE BIRDS OF COLOMBO. 



By Walter A. Cave. 



(With five Plates.) 



'T^HE following list is intended for those who have only a slight 

 -■- knowledge of the study of birds, to enable them to identify 

 a species without having to refer to scientific works on the subject. 



The list is by no means complete, but it has been compiled with 

 the idea of encouraging others to make similar lists of birds in their 

 districts. The writer will welcome notes from any one who can 

 record the occurrence of birds in Colombo other than those listed. 



The scientific nomenclature and arrangement of the Fuana of 

 British India Series (Birds) have been followed, but in the case of 

 the familiar names, I have sometimes adopted those used by 

 Blandford and Gates, and at others those used by Legge, whichever 

 I considered would be the most helpful to a beginner in identifying 

 the bird. The numbers given in brackets in front of each species 

 refer to the number of the species in Blandford's volume of Birds in 

 the Fauna of British India. 



No attempt has been made to describe the plumage accurately or 

 in detail, for a description of the bird as it appears to a casual 

 observer is, to my mind, more useful in a list of this kind. Only 

 two references have been given, Blandford and Gates and Legge. 

 These two worlis contain ample references for the scientific ornitho- 

 logist, and furthermore they will give the beginner all the details 

 he may require. 



The term " Resident " is used to indicate that the bird is resident 

 in Ceylon. In some cases there is a local migration of resident 

 birds, and such have been mentioned. There is, however, much 

 work still needed on the movements of some species at certain 

 times of the year. For instance, it may be noted that Bee-eaters, 

 Grioles, and Richard's Pipits are more frequently seen in February 

 and March in Colombo than at any other time of the year. 



The daily migration of crows is a well-known feature. It is 

 noticeable that during the last three or four years large numbers 

 have taken to roosting in the trees in York street and the clump of 

 trees smToundiug the fountain by the Racquet Court. In the latter 

 vicinity the air is black with crows, in the evening, struggling and 

 quarreUmg to secure their places for the night. The trees in the 

 Fort offer innumerable coigns of advantage from which the crows 



