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



Kandy itself. It usually perches low ; and from its habit of frequenting 

 dense jungle, it is often difficult to obtain sight of. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet flesh-colour. 



Ceylon, India, Assam, Burmah, Malacca, Hainan. 



158. Thamnobia fulicata, Linn. 



Common about houses and outbuildings, and, I believe, generally 

 distributed through the lower parts of the country. I have seen them 

 more numerous in the north than elsewhere ; and they were always 

 about my house at Aripo, frequently coming into the veranda, and 

 generally very tame. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet black. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



159. Pratincola caprata, Linn. 



Layard and Kelaart both mention having obtained this species on 

 the lower hills ; but I have never met with it, either alive or as a skin. 

 Ceylon, India, Burmah, Malaya, Philippines. 



1 60. Pratincola atrata, Blyth. 



Very common at Nuwara Eliya and on the upper hills. It frequents 

 gardens rather than jungle ; and the top of a rhododendron bush is 

 a favourite station for the male, which always chooses a conspicuous 

 position when it sings its short Robin-like song. Young males at 

 first have the general brown plumage and rufous rump of the female ; 

 the change to the pure black and white of the adult male is very 

 gradual, the quills and rump being the last to assume the mature 

 colours. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet black. 



Ceylon hills, Neilgherries. 



161. Larvivora cyana, Hodgson. 



This bird is a winter visitor to Ceylon. Layard obtained speci- 

 mens in October in the extreme north ; and I procured adult and 

 immature examples of both sexes at Nuwara Eliya in January, Feb- 

 ruary, and March. It was at that time tolerably common on the hills ; 

 but I have not met with it at any other season. 



The female is olive-brown above ; underparts rufous, paler on the 

 throat and centre of abdomen ; under tail-coverts white. These 

 particulars, taken from one of my Ceylon specimens, agree with 

 Hodgson's last description of the colours in the female. 



Bill dusky ; irides brown ; feet flesh-colour. 



Ceylon, India (generally on the hills). 



162. Cyanecula suecica, Linn. 



Layard obtained this species in March in one of the coffee-districts. 

 I have not met with it. 



Ceylon, India, N. and W. Asia, N. Europe. 



