IN JERDON OR STRAY FEATHERS. 367 



pretty deeply with white ; the bill is pale or yellowish-white 

 on the sides, but the upper arch of the upper mandible is 

 blackish or dusky ; the lower mandible dusky, but whitish or 

 pale beneath ; both mandibles are serrated in the usual man- 

 ner of this genus ; the legs are dusky. This species is a native 

 of the Island of Ceylon. — Shaw. 



The irides are reddish, and when partly hidden by the long 

 stiff black eye-lashes, have a very peculiar appearance. 



In some specimeus the bill is white, with a black patch 

 extending from the naked space round the eye, about three- 

 fourths of an inch along the lower half of the upper man- 

 dible ; the bill 3| inch long ; the three outer tail-feathers are 

 white ; the fourth half black from the quill ; the fifth black ; the 

 head has a rufous tinge. 



In other specimens the head wants the rufous tinge ; the 

 first tail-feather is white, with the outer shaft black up two- 

 thirds of its length, and slightly tinged up one-third of the 

 inner web; second and third feathers black on both sides up 

 two-thirds of their length ; fourth black up to an inch from 

 the tip ; fifth black altogether. 



Bill, 2|- inch long and black, with a white patch on the 

 upper mandible about 1 1 long, beginning about half an inch 

 from the base. — Layard. 



The colour and shape of the bill in this bird vary a good 

 deal with age. 



Bill yellowish, more or less marked with black ; irides red- 

 dish brown; feet slate grey. — Holdsworth. 



151 bis.— Palseornis calthropse, Layard, in Blyth. 



A beautiful species, the representative in the mountainous 

 parts of Ceylon of P. columboides of the Nilgiris, to which 

 species it manifests the nearest affinity. Crown and back 

 plumbeous-grey, passing to bluish on the rump, and rich dark 

 indigo-blue on the middle tail-feathers and outer webs of the 

 rest ; tail yellow beneath and at the tips, sullied along the 

 inner webs of the rectrices above ; forehead and cheeks (pass- 

 ing beyoud the eye), broad nuchal riug, and entire under parts 

 brilliant green ; wings deeper green, paler and yellowish to- 

 wards the scapularies ; throat intense black, and contrasting, 

 with a tendency to form a ring round the neck, hut which 

 does not so much as half surround the neck ; upper mandi- 

 ble bright coral, with a white tip ; the lower reddish ; wing, 

 5£ inch ; tail probably of the usual length, but its medial 



