BIRDS OF COLOMBO. 99 



(550) Acridotheres melanosternus (the Common Ceylon Myna). 

 Resident. 



Oates, Fuana Br. Incl. (Birds), I., p. 538 ; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 670. 

 Peculiar to Ceylon. Found on the outskirts of Colombo, and very 

 common in the low-country. Takes the place of A. trislis, the 

 common Myna of India, and only varies slightly from it in coloura- 

 tion. The Ceylon species is too well known as a cage bird to need 

 description. 



Family MUSGIGAPIDM. 



(588) Alseonax latirostris (the Brown Fly-catcher). Migrant. 



Oates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), II., p. 35 ; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 415. 

 An early migrant, arriving at the beginning of October. A small 

 insignificant brown bii'd, with a ring of white feathers round the eye 

 which are scarcely perceptible, but tend to make the eyes conspic- 

 uous. One came on board a steamer I was on, about 250 miles 

 due west of Colombo, in January, 1907. 



(598) Terpsiphone paradisi (the Paradise Fly-catcher), Partial 

 migrant. 



Oates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), II., p. 45 ; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 404. 

 As far as my observations go, this bird is not common in Colombo, 

 but whenever seen it is bound to attract attention by the elegance 

 of its plumage. During its life the male undergoes three changes, 

 but in each stage the black head and tuft of feathers are retained. 

 This tuft and the size of the bird in the short-tailed stage remind one 

 of a Bulbul. 



Female and Young Male. 

 The whole head black, throat brown, plumage above chestnut, 

 below whitish. This plumage is retained by the female for life. 



. Second Year (Male). 

 Plumage as above , but the feathers of the tail grow to a foot or 

 more in length. 



Third Year. 

 Plumage as above, but under parts pure white, throat black. 



Fourth Year. 

 Plumage, except the head which is black, entirely white, including 

 the elongated feathers of the tail, which vary from 13 in. to 17 in. in 

 length. This white plumage after this age is permanently retained. 

 The first time I saw a bird in this stage it flew a short distance from 

 one tree to another and I scarcely had time to recognize it, but it 

 seemed as though it were carry uig a long piece of white thread. 

 The Sinhalese name, Redi hora (Cotton Thief), b\' which this 



