1872.] MR. E.W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 457 



the British Museum, where there is a specimen named and sent by 

 Dr. Jerdon himself. In the 'Birds of India,' vol. ii. p. 180, Jerdon 

 mentions that Blyth described this species from specimens he sent 

 him from Southern India ; but he afterwards absorbed it into D. lon- 

 gicaudatus in the belief that the specimen he described was in im- 

 perfect plumage. Jerdon further says: — "It appears to me very 

 similar to some Ceylon birds which Mr. Blyth doubtfully considered 

 identical with D. inomatus." 



My Ceylon birds are greyish brown on the upper surface, rather 

 paler on the head, cheeks, and neck ; lores pale and much less con- 

 spicuous than in D. inornatus ; under surface pale fulvous, and flanks 

 rather dusky ; the upper surface of the tail-feathers distinctly striated, 

 the striae showing as faint narrow bars on the under surface, which 

 has a narrow dark subtermiual band, generally darker in the centre, 

 and giving the appearance of a spot. Iu fresh specimens the bill is 

 dusky above, fleshy below ; irides pale yellow ; feet flesh-colour. 



Length 5 - 5 inches, wing 2'3, tail 2 - 5, tarsus *8, bill at front "4. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



1G9. Drymoipus validus, Blyth. 



This species, at first called D. robustus by Blyth, is peculiar to Cey- 

 lon, and, according to Layard (who discovered it), rather a rare bird. 

 Mr. Legge and I were both mistaken in believing it common about 

 Colombo, as I now find I did not see the species in Ceylon. A spe- 

 cimen in Lord Walden's collection, agreeing with another in the 

 British Museum, has the bill entirely black, stouter and considerably 

 deeper than I have seen in any other Ceylon species ; top of the 

 head, lores, and general upper surface dark greyish brown ; beneath 

 whitish, with a pale fulvous tinge ; cheeks, sides of the breast, and 

 flanks dusky. Length 6 inches, wing 2'4, tarsus 1, bill at front *5. 



The dry specimen has the bill black ; tarsus yellow-brown (pro- 

 bably flesh-colour when alive) ; irides "light red-brown" {Layard). 



Ceylon. 



170. Phylloscopus nitidus, Lath. 



This bird is common at Nuwara Eliya in the cold season ; aud I 

 have seen it also at Aripo. 



Bill dusky above, flesh below ; irides dark brown ; feet pale brown. 

 Ceylon, India. 



171. Phylloscopus viridanus, Blyth. 



Recorded by Layard, who also gives Phyllojmeuste montanns, 

 Blyth, which is probably a synonym of Acrocephalus dumetorum, 

 Blyth. 



172. Sylvia affinis, Blyth. 



I obtained one specimen of this species at Aripo in December. 

 Layard also appears to have only met with it on one occasion. 



Bill, base slate, tip dusky ; irides pale yellow ; feet dark leaden. 

 In this species and very many others Jerdon has apparently given 



