1872.] MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 413 



off to some favourite tree, where the hard shell of the crab is broken 

 up and the animal devoured. One of these stations, further down 

 tbe coast, was on the cross-trees of a government flagstaff at Aripo ; 

 and the ground below was always littered with crab-shells and fish- 

 bones, the remains of many a meal provided from the refuse of the 

 fishermen's nets, which were hauled in on the beach close by. Sea- 

 snakes {Hydrophis) are said to be a favourite food of this species ; and 

 these reptiles are abundant on the Pearl-Oyster banks nine or ten 

 miles off the Aripo coast ; but I have never observed the Eagles so 

 far from the land. 



A curious instance came to my knowledge of this bird having 

 apparently thriven on most unnatural food. My friend, Dr. Boake, 

 the late Principal of Queen's College, Colombo, once pointed out to 

 me an example of this Eagle of full size, but in immature plumage. 

 It had been recently brought to him by a native, who said he had 

 reared the bird in his own hut. In answer to an inquiry as to what 

 he had fed the bird on, he said " rice and curry." This is the 

 universal food of the natives ; and dogs and cats appear to thrive as 

 well upon it ; but that a Sea-Eagle should have been reared on such 

 food seemed incredible. However, the matter was soon tested by a 

 supply of rice and curry being given to the bird ; and the statement 

 of the native was quickly confirmed by the rapid disappearance of 

 the whole of the food. The next day some fish was given, and the 

 Eagle, once having tasted it, could never afterwards be induced to 

 touch rice and curry. 



In a male example of this Sea-Eagle which I shot at Aripo I 

 found the liver of an enormous size, covering the whole of the pec- 

 toral and a great part of the abdominal regions. 



Bill dusky blue ; cere yellow ; irides brown ; feet yellowish white. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah, Malaya, Australia. 



16 bis. Buteo desertorum, Daudin. 



Lord Waldeu has received a single specimen of this Buzzard from 

 Ceylon. 



Ceylon, India, Persia, S. Europe, Africa. 



17. Circus swainsonii, A. Smith. 



Common in the Aripo district throughout the year ; and I have 

 frequently seen it at Nuwara Eliya in July and August. The pale 

 rump of the brown birds attracts attention as they hunt backwards 

 and forwards over the open country. 



Bill black ; irides yellow ; feet yellow. 



Asia, Africa. 



18. Circus cineraceus, Montagu. 



I have only identified this species on one occasion ; it was killed 

 near Colombo. Although probably not uncommon in Ceylon, it is 

 certainly not so numerous there as the last species. 



Bill black ; irides yellow ; feet yellow. 



Europe, Asia, Africa. 



