BIRDS OF COLOMBO. 105 



it utters its note, a decided wok-wok-wok, in a more rapid series, it 

 does at times repeat it slowly like the Coppersmith. I have noticed 

 that the voice, if I may apply the term, of the Coppersmith 

 sometimes " cracks " on a note, when a harsh sound is produced. 

 This never occurs with the next species. 



X. hcematolephala, according to Legge, is confined to the drier 

 parts of the Island, chiefly on " the lower portions of the Kandyan 

 country towards the east." It does not appear to come further 

 west than Peradeniya. 



(1021) Xantholaema rubricapilla (the Little Ceylon Barbet). 

 Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 100 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 215, plate XI, 

 This Little Barbet is peculiar to Ceylon, and abundant in Colombo. 

 It frequents tall leafy trees, and, on account of its green plumage, is 

 not often seen. Although its note, wok-wok-wok, is very distinct, it 

 does not assist one in tracing the bird, for it has a habit of turning 

 its head from side to side, and it is difficult to decide from which 

 direction the sound reaUy comes. 



Key to the Barbets. 



General plumage uniformly green. 



A. — Length, 8*5 in. and over. 



(a) Head, neck, and breast brown, yellow 



patch round edge . . . . T. zeylonicus. 



(h) Cheeks blue, j'^ellow patch on forehead C. favifrons. 



B. — Length more than 6 in. 



(a) Top of head black ; cheeks yellow, red 



patch on forehead ; hroad red hand 

 below the yellow breast ; plumage 

 below whitish, feathers with broad 

 dark green centres, giving a mottled 

 appearance . . . . X. hcemato- 



cephala. 



(b) Top of head bluish-green ; cheeks blue, 



red patch on forehead ; crimson spot 

 on the yellow breast ; plumage below 

 uniformly green .. .. X. rubricapilla. 



Family CORAOIADJE. 



(1022) Coracias indica (the Indian Roller). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 103 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 281. 



I have only once seen this bird in Colombo. It is usually confined 

 to the drier parts of the Island. Plumage generally is a mixture of 

 p 6(2)12 



