174 ZOOLOGY. [PART II. 



vellous tree chiefly owes its diffusion, its seeds being 

 carried by them to remote localities. A very beautiful 

 pigeon, peculiar to the mountain range, discovered in 

 the lofty trees at Neuera-ellia, has, in compliment to 

 the Viscountess Torrington, been named Carpophaga 

 Torringtonice. 



Another, called by the natives neela-cobeya l , although 

 strikingly elegant both in shape and colour, is still 

 more remarkable for the singularly soothing effect 

 of its low and harmonious voice. A gentleman who 

 has spent many years in the jungle, in writing to 

 me of this bird and of the effects of its melodious 

 song, says, that " its soft and melancholy notes, as they 

 came from some solitary place in the forest, were 

 the most gentle sounds I ever listened to. Some sen- 

 timental smokers assert that the influence of the pro- 

 pensity is to make them feel as if they could freely forgive 

 all who had ever offended them, and I can say with 

 truth such has been the effect produced on my own 

 nerves by the plaintive murmurs of the neela-cobeya. 

 Sometimes, when irritated, and not without reason, by 

 the perverseness of some of my native followers, the 

 feeling has almost instantly subsided into placidity on 

 suddenly hearing the loving tones of these beautiful 

 birds. " 



V. GALLING. The Ceylon Jungle-fowl. The jungle- 

 fowl of Ceylon 2 is shown by the peculiarity of its 

 plumage to be distinct from the Indian species. It 

 has never yet bred or survived long in captivity, and 

 no living specimens have been successfully transmitted 

 to Europe. It abounds in all parts of the island, but 

 chiefly in the lower ranges of mountains ; and one of 

 the most vivid memorials associated with my journeys 

 through the hills, is its loud clear cry, that sounds 

 like a person calling " George Joyce ! " At early 

 morning it rises amidst mist and dew, giving life 



1 Chalcophaps Indicus, Linn. 2 Gallus Lafayetti, Lesson. 



