PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 105 



pointed ovals of a pinkish-white or pale cream colour, and 

 sparingly marked with spots of dark reddish-brown, occa- 

 sionally almost black. Average size 1 • 10 by • 79. 



Family Eulabetid/b. 



Genus Eulabes. 



Grackles. 



The Grackles, or Hill Mynahs, comprise two Ceylon species, 

 which in nianj?- respects resemble large Mynahs. They differ, 

 however, sufficiently to justify their separation into another 

 famihr, the chief outwardly distinctive feature being the 

 fleshy yellow wattles on the nape. Both Cej'-lon species have 

 a brilliantly glossy black plumage with a patch of w hite on the 

 wing. The bill is stout and somewhat curved, the oval 

 nostrils are rather sunken and lie just clear of the feathers at 

 the base of the bill. Rictal bristles are present, but are not 

 very pronounced. The first primary is minute and the wings 

 are long, but rather blunt ; the tail is short and nearly square, 

 the tarsi are stout and the feet strong. The call is a melodious 

 whistle, and the birds can be taught to speak or to whistle a 

 few bars of a tune. They are strictly arboreal and feed on 

 fruit. 



Key to Ceylon Eulahetidse. 



A. — 'A patch of bare skin under the eye ; base of lappets 

 prolonged forward into a V-shaped ridge. 



Eulabes religiosa religiosa (Southern Grackle). 



B. — -No bare skin under the eye ; base of lappets not 

 prolonged forward. 



Eulabes ptilogenys (Ceylon Grackle). 



Eflabes religiosa religiosa. 



The Southern Grackle. 



Evlahes religiosa (Oates, Vol. I., p. 510 ; Legge, p. 682). 



Description. — Whole plumage rich black, glossed with 

 purple on the head, cheeks, and hind-neck, and with greenish 

 on the rest of upper parts and throat ; the feathers of the 



14 G(17)21 



