1872.] MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 435 



100. Dendrophila frontalis, Horsf. 



Layard speaks of this bird as "abundant about jack-trees," which 

 are only found in the low country. Although I have known it killed 

 in such parts of the island, I have always considered it a hill species, 

 as it is one of the common birds at all seasons at Nuwara Eliya and 

 on the upper hills. Jerdon states that in India it is most abundant 

 on the Neilgherries — a situation corresponding in a remarkable 

 manner with the higher hills in Ceylon, the birds and plants of the 

 two ranges being in most respects the same. 



These little Nuthatches appear to keep in small parties at all times 

 of the year, and are very active in examining the branches of any 

 trees they may happen to visit. The colours of this bird soon lose 

 their brightness after death ; and the peculiar delicacy of the tints 

 cau hardly be discovered in a cabinet specimen. 



Bill coral-red ; irides golden ; feet yellow-brown. 



Ceylon, India, Assam, Burmah, Malaya. 



101. Upupa nigripennis, Grould. 



Very abundant in the Aripo district during the winter months, and 

 occasionally in the summer. Some of these birds are no doubt resi- 

 dents in Ceylon ; but their numbers in the north are largely increased 

 about October, either by migrants from India or from the east side 

 of the island. Layard speaks of it under the name of U. sene- 

 ffale?isis, Sw., and says he " shot young birds, not fully fledged, in 

 August." This would agree with the breeding-time of the Hoopoe 

 in Burmah, of which Jerdon says : — " I found it breeding in holes 

 of trees in June and July." If Layard's birds, however, were bred 

 in Ceylon, as might be supposed from his statement that they were 

 not fully fledged, then there are two distinct breeding-seasons for 

 this species in the north of the island, as in January 18/0 I found, 

 in my compound at Aripo, a nest of the Hoopoe in a hole in a small 

 mustard-tree (Salvadora persica). I caught the old bird as it was 

 leaving tbe nest ; and after enlarging the hole, came down to three 

 young birds, just hatched, and resting on a bed of rotten wood. 

 These nestlings were quite naked, and their bills were barely a quarter 

 of an inch long. 



The Hoopoe was found by Layard on the east and south-east 

 coasts, and once at Colombo. I have also had a specimen from the 

 neighbourhood of Kandy. 



The flight of this bird is easy and undulating ; and its note is re- 

 peated whilst it is on the wing, as well as when perched on the top 

 of a tall bush. 



There is some variation in the colours and dimensions of the 

 Hoopoes found in Ceylon, the tendency being towards the characters 

 of the Burmese variety described by Jerdon. Of three specimens 

 shot at Aripo, one has the bill at front l - 9 inch, the closed wing 5 ; 

 first primary entirely black, chin whitish, and the feathers of the 

 posterior half of the crest white between the black and rufous, 

 The last characters have been regarded as specially belonging to 



