436 Notes on some Ceylonese Birds. 



pears to me, individual^ dependant on age^ sex, and season, and 

 not in any way local. 



281 5*s.— Buchanga leucopygialis, Blyfh. 



This is a very distinct species : it differs not merely as Mr, 

 Holdsvvorth says from ccerulescens in having- less white about the 

 abdominal reg-ion and in its smaller size, but the whole upper 

 plumage is of a different tint, being of a somewhat blackish blue 

 instead of the very grei/ blue that characterises the Indian form. 

 Individuals of each may be picked out which do not differ so 

 very strikingly, but with a large series of both, the difference is 

 conspicuous, especially in the males, which in the Ceylon birds 

 seem always to be the darkest, a difference that I have failed to 

 trace in the Continental species. 



283 ^itcti.— Dissemurus lophorhinus, Vieill. 



Fine specimens of this species greatly exceed the dimensions 

 given by Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 305 ; the wing extends to at least 

 5*75 inch; the bill from gape to 1"55 ; and from nostrils to point 

 to 1 ; while the exterior tail feathers in some specimens extend 

 2*5 inch beyond the centre ones. The whole length of a fine bird 

 can scarcely be less than 14 inch. 



292.— Leucocirca aureola, Less. 



To judge from the only two Ceylon specimens sent me, and 

 which I have compared with birds from various parts of India, 

 the Ceylon bird is smaller, is decidedly darker on the nape, and 

 upper back, and has a considerably longer bill than any of the 

 Continental races. 



297.— Alseonax latirostris. Baffles. 



Specimens from Ceylon, Southern and Northern India, the 

 Himalayas, and the Andamans are all precisely identical; but 

 Mr. Holdsworth gives us also Alseonax terricolor, Hodgson. 

 Can any body tell me what bird this is, as distinct from Raffle's 

 bird, because I have not been able to make out the distinc- 

 tion, and as at present advised, believe that the two are iden- 

 tical, in which case of course the bird must stand under Raffles' 

 name. 



306.— Oyornis Tickellise, Blyfh. 



The Ceylon blue red-breast must, I think, stand under this 

 name. I have numerous specimens from all parts of the country. 

 From Kumaon to Ceylon and, as far as I can make out, there is 

 only one species of which the young males and females represent 

 Tickellice and the old males Jerdoni. 



