110 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



It is frequently seen in the harbour feeding on garbage from the 

 ships, and is common in most parts of the Island on the coast. The 

 plumage of the adult bird is maroon-red, except the head, neck, and 

 breast, which are white. Young birds are totally different, lacking 

 the maroon and white, and being mottled, more or less, all over. 

 Legge's note on the way this bird devours its food whilst on the 

 wing is very interesting. I have frequently seen it performing the 

 operation. 



(1234) Circus cineraceus (Montagu's Harrier). Migrant. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 383 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 12. 



Only one specimen, which was caught in Colombo in October, 

 has come under my notice. It is a migrant, and comes over at the 

 beginning of the cool season. 



(1248) Accipiter virgatus (the Besra, or Jungle Sparrow Hawk). 

 Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), III., p. 404 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 26. 



Reported by Mr. Symons. 



I have seen several other species of hawks in Colombo, but so far 

 have been unable to identify them. 



Family COLUMBIDM. 



Sub-family Columbin.^. 



(1307) Turtursuratensis (the Spotted Dove). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), IV., p. 43 ; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 705. 



Seen occasionally on the outskirts of Colombo, but abundant 

 throughout the low-country. The head is gray, a band of black 

 feathers with white spots round hind neck. Above brown, the 

 white tips of the tail feathers conspicuous when on the wing. Under 

 parts vinous. A common cage bird. 



Family PHASIANIDM. 



(1354) Excalfactoria chinensis (the Blue-breasted or Chinese 

 Quail). Resident. 



Blandford, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), IV., p. 112 ; Legge, Birds 

 of Ceylon, p. 755. 



With the disappearance of the grass fields in Colombo, this Quail 

 is not so frequently met with as it used to be. They are, however, 

 still to be found, and I have put them up in the evenings near the 

 racecourse. 



