( 30 ) 



in the nests of King Crows, and the latter have been actually 

 observed in the act of feeding a young Surniculus* This there- 

 fore appears to be an example of natural mimicry. 



The Red-faced Malkoha (Phcsnicopfiaes pyrfhoce2)halus) is pecu- 

 liar to Ceylon,t as is also the Ceylonese Coucal (Cenfropus 

 chlororhi/nchiis). Both of these species inhabit dense and damp 

 forests. The Common Coucal or Crow-pheasant (Gentropiis 

 sinens/s) is known locally as the Jungle Crow. It is a familiar 

 bird in the low-country jungles and in the vicinity of villages, its 

 chestnut-coloured wings offering a handsome contrast to the glossy 

 black body. It is a ground-feeding bird, eating insects, lizards, 

 and small snakes. 



The Indian Koel (Eudynamis honorata) is another familiar 

 Indo-Ceylonese bird. In the breeding season, from March till 

 July, its cry of ku-il ku-il, increasing in intensity and ascending 

 in the scale, is to be heard in almost every grove [Blanford, Lc, 

 p. 229]. In Ceylon it is known to Europeans as the Brain- fever 

 bird, on account of the persistency of its cry. It feeds on fruit, 

 and, like the cuckoos, is parasitic in its nesting habits, laying its 

 eggs in May and June in the nests of crows, generally the Indian 

 or Gray Crow {Oorvus splendens), less frequently in those of the 

 Black Crow (Corvus macrorliynchus). The crows bring up the 

 koels, which at times eject the young crows from the nest after 

 they have been hatched [Blanford]. The male is black through- 

 out ; the female is spotted with white. 



The principal parrot of Ceylon is sometimes called the Alexan- 

 drine Paroquet {Palceornis eupatria), coloured green, with (in the 

 male) a broad rose-pink collar round the nape. The little Ceylonese 

 Loriquet {Loriculus indicus) is peculiar to Ceylon. The parrot 

 Avhich is commonly used as a cage bird by the natives of Ceylon 

 is the Rose-ringed Paroquet {Palceornis torquatus). 



Of the owls which are shown in the bottom shelf, the Ceylon 

 Bay Owl (Photodilus assimilis), peculiar to Ceylon, is to be noted 

 on account of its rarity, being found only in the hills round 

 Kandy. The Demon bird, or "Ulama" of Ceylon, so-called on 

 account of its dreadful moaning hoot, is commonly identified with 

 Huhua nepalensis (= Bubo nipalensis) and also with Syrnium 

 indrani. 



In the other half of this case, commencing at the top, are shown 

 the Barbets (Capitonidre), of which the Yellow-fronted Barbet 

 (Gyanops flavifrons) and the pretty little Ceylon Barbet {Xantho- 

 lamia ruhricapilld) are peculiar to the Island ; Indian Rollers 



* Blanford, W.T. Bird^ of India, 1895, vol. III., p. 224. 



t The distribution of the different species of birde is indicated in red upon the 

 small maps placed below the specimens. 



