204 mr. e. l. layard on ceylonese birds. [feb. 18, 



13. Spilornis bacha. 



Mr. Blyth, who identified my specimen, always had doubts as to 

 our Ceylon species differing from the Indian S. bacha. 



46. Caprimulgus atripennis, Jerdon. 



The identification of this species with my C. mahrattensis is 

 doubtless correct. 



61. Tockus griseus. 



I suspect this must be the species observed by me, but not pro- 

 cured. 



65. PalvEOrnis calthrop^e. 



I have to thank Mr. Holdsworth for restoring the true reading of 

 this name. 



70. Chrysocolaptes stricklandi. 



Mr. Holdsworth and I differ in the colour of the irides. I can 

 only say I noted them on skinning the specimens, which was my 

 usual practice. I think, however, that it is not a good plan. I 

 have observed, since I have been here chiefly, that the colour of 

 some irides change with decomposition, usually becoming darker. 

 The safest plan for the collecting naturalist is to have a number of 

 labels with him in the woods, and to note colours at once. Sex and 

 age also I am inclined to think affect their colour. 



74. Brachypternus ceylonus. 



I have already stated elsewhere that Dr. Kelaart's identifications 

 were not to be depended on. 



76. Megalaima flavifrons. 



This bird never, in my day, came near Colombo. Its peculiar call 

 would at once have betrayed it ; and it was a bird I never omitted 

 to get if I could, being peculiar to the island. It must now be 

 spreading outwards from the mountain-zone. 



103. Lanius cristatus. 



I can supply the hiatus here. I was at Hambantotte and the 

 south-east coast in April and May. 



111. BuCHANGA LONGICAUDATA. 



If B. minor is not in my list of Ceylon birds (I have not access 

 to my books, which are nearly all packed to avoid the damp of this 

 destructive climate), there has probably been a wrong identification 

 here. The bird to which I allude is extremely common in the 

 Jaffna peninsula. 



122. Alseonax terricolor, Hodgson. 



Lord Walden showed me a specimen of my Butalis muttui, 



