BIRDS OF COLOMBO. 107 



(1044) Halcyon smyrnensis (the White-breasted Kingfisher). 

 Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 132 ; Legge, Birds 



of Ceylon, p. 298. 



One of the commonest birds of Colombo, being found in almost 



every garden. Its harsh scream as it wings its way through the air, 



contrasted with the plaintive note it utters when perched on a 



branch, must be familiar to every resident. 



Key to the Kingfishers. 



Plumage entirely pied, black and white . . C. varia. 



Plumage generally bright blue ; chin, throat, 

 eye-stripe white ; under plumage ' ' orange 

 rufous " . . . . . . A. ispida. 



Plumage generally bright " torquoise blue " ; 

 breast white ; head and lower parts below 

 breast rich " chestnut-brown " . . H. smyrnensis. 



Family CYP8ELIDM. 



Sub-family Cypselin.^;. 



(1073) Cypselus afiBnis (the Common Indian Swift). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 168 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 319. 

 Fairly common. May be distinguished from other Swifts by its 

 vigorous flight, the conspicuous white rump in contrast to its black 

 plumage, and its short square tail. The white rump can be distin- 

 guished even when looking up at the bird, for the white patch 

 extends to the sides of the rump. 



(1075) Tachornis batassiensis (the Palm Swift). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 170 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 322. 

 Much more common than the foregoing species. This small Swift 

 is found all over the low-country and on the lower hills. The general 

 colour of the plumage is smoky-brown ; the tail is deeply forked, but 

 this can only be noticed when the bird opens it whilst on the wing. 

 The flight, though fluttering, is fast, and its note, which can 

 frequently be heard, " is likened by Blyth to the sound titeeya " 

 (Legge). Frequently seen flying about at dusk after insects. 



(1086) Macropteryx coronata (the Indian Crested Swift). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 180 ; Legge, Birds 



of Ceylon, p. 328. 



The largest Swift seen in Colombo. Its crest is scarcely, if ever, 



raised when on the wing, but conspicuous when perched. The 



plumage above is " bluish ashy," grayish underneath, paling into the 



white of the under tail-coverts. The tail is long and deeply forked. 



