440 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mar. 5, 



growth, one example showing a difference in the intermediate length 

 of bare stem in the growing feathers on the two sides of the tail. 

 The short tail-feathers in some specimens appear to me to be possibly 

 a character of youth ; but they are regarded by Lord Walden as in- 

 dividual variations ; and the attention he has given to the Dicruri en- 

 titles his opinion to considerable weight. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet black. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



116. Artamtjs fuscus, Vieill. 



Generally distributed over the low country, but is locally abundant 

 at certain seasons. It is very common at Aripo and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Colombo during the N.E. monsoon. I have always 

 found it in small parties and easy of approach. 



Bill pale blue ; irides dark brown ; feet dark slate. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah. 



117. Tchitrea paradisi, Linn. 



Generally distributed over the low country, and, at certain seasons, 

 not uncommon on the lower hills. It is, however, a great wanderer, 

 and very uncertain in its movements. At Aripo they have at times 

 been very numerous ; and then I have not seen one for several weeks. 

 They seem to be of a fearless disposition, and used sometimes to fly 

 up under the roof of my veranda after spiders when I was standing 

 within a few yards of them. I have procured specimens in all states 

 of plumage at different times, and two examples showing the change 

 from the red to the white feathers — one of them at Aripo, the other 

 at Colombo, and both in January. Layard obtained one in February 

 in which the chauge was far advanced. They are common about 

 Kandy towards the end of the year. 



Bill leaden blue ; irides brown ; feet pale blue. 



Ceylon, India. 



118. Myiagra azurea, Bodd. 



Widely distributed, according to Layard, who, however, speaks of 

 this bird as M. ccerulea, Vieill. I have only seen it from the western 

 province, where it is locally not uncommon. 



Ceylon, India to China, Malaya, Andamans?, Philippines. 



119. Leucocerca aureola, Less. 

 Leucocerca albofrontata, Frankl. 



Layard records the occurrence of a Leucocerca in Ceylon which 

 was described by Blyth as L. compressirostris, from its differing from 

 the above species in having the bill more compressed. Mr. Blyth 

 tells me, however, that he believes now it was only a variety and that 

 it should come under the above heading. I have examined a Ceylon 

 specimen of L. compressirostris ; and the character of the bill is very 

 decided, so much so as almost to justify the separation of the bird 

 from the Myiagrince, if in other respects it did not agree so closely 

 with L. albofrontata. That species, however, has been received from 



