CHAP. IL] 



BIRDS. 



181 



Palseornis Layardi. The Jaffna par- 

 roquet was discovered by Mr. La- 

 yard at Point Pedro. 



Megalaima flavifrons. The yellow-head- 

 ed barbet, is not uncommon. 



Megalaima rubricapilla,is found in most 

 parts of the island. 



Picus gymnophthalmus. Layard's wood- 

 pecker. The smallest of the species, 

 was discovered near Colombo, a- 

 mongst jak-trees. 



Brachypternus Ceylonus. The Ceylon 

 woodpecker,jsjbnndin abundance 

 near Neuera-ellia. 



Brachypternus rubescens. The red 

 woodpecker. 



Centropus chlororhynchus. The yellow- 

 billed cuckoo, was detected by Mr. 

 Layard in dense jungle near Co- 

 lombo and Avisavelle. 



Phcenicophaus pyrrhocephalus. The 

 malkoha, is confined to the southern 

 highlands. 



Treron flavogularis. The common green 

 pigeon, is found in abundance at 

 the top of Balacaddua Pass and at 

 Ratnapoora. It feeds on berries 

 and flies in large flocks. It was 

 believed to be identical with the 

 following. Mag. Nat. Hist. p. 58 : 

 1854. 



Treron Pompadonra. The Pompadour 

 pigeon. "The Prince of Canino 



has shown that this is a totally dis- 

 tinct bird, much smaller, with the 

 quantity of maroon colour on the 

 mantle greatly reduced." Paper 

 by Mr. BLYTH, Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 p. 514: 1857. 



Carpophaga Torringtoniae. Lady Tor- 

 rington's pigeon; a very handsome 

 pigeon discovered in the highlands 

 by Dr. Kelaart. It flies high in 

 long sweeps, and makes its nest on 

 the loftiest trees. 



Carpophaga pusilla. The little-hill 

 dove, a migratory species found by 

 Mr. Layard in the mountain zone, 

 only appearing with the ripened 

 fruit of the teak, banyan, &c., on 

 which they feed. 



Gallus Lafayetti. The Ceylon jungle 

 fowl. The female of this handsome 

 bird was figured by Mr. GRAY (///. 

 2nd. Zoo/.) under the name of G. 

 Stanley!. The cock bird had long 

 been lost to naturalists, until aspeci- 

 men was forwarded to Mr. Blyth, 

 who at once recognised it as the 

 long-looked -for male of Mr. Gray's 

 recently described female. It is 

 abundant in all the uncultivated 

 portions of Ceylon; coming out 

 into the open spaces to feed in the 

 mornings and evenings. 



