AND NOTES ON VARIOUS SPECIES FOUND THERE. 195 



6.— Neophron ginginianus, Daud. (1.) 



This Vulture, the most important addition for many years to 

 our Ceylon Avifauna, must now take its place at the head of 

 the existing catalogues, an immature example having heen shot in 

 the hills some months ago by a gentleman in the Public Works 

 Department. The bird in question occurred at Newara Ellia, 

 our Sanitarium — which is situated at an elevation of 6,200 

 feet above the sea level — during the early part of last March. 

 This was during the prevalence of the north-east monsoon, the 

 time of year, when, as I predicted, antea, p. 488, Vol. I. } Indian 

 Raptors will be found to stray southwards to Ceylon. It was 

 at this season that I procured Poliornis teesa and Errjthropus 

 vespertinns, and Mr. Bligh of Kandy his interesting straggler 

 Limneetus Kienieri. It is to be hoped that each successive 

 season will replenish our list, now that the study of ornitho- 

 logy is more zealously pursued than heretofore. 



Our Scavenger was, it appears, very tame at the time he was 

 observed, and was flying about the native bazaar, when he met 

 with his untimely end. Bearing in mind the habits of this species 

 and its mode of frequenting the vicinity of human dwellings in 

 search of its sustenance, it is not unreasonable to suppose that, as 

 it has not been hitherto observed, this is its first actual appearance 

 of late years in the island. But that it should have been found at 

 this particular place and at such an elevation seems remarkable ; 

 for, as regards its South Indian range, I presume that it is 

 by no means confined to the highlands which correspond in the 

 character of their Avifauna to our hills. It must be inferred, 

 therefore, that it was driven southwards, in a high northerly 

 wind, at a considerable elevation, and brought itself to a stand 

 in the hills of the Central Province, thence making its way to 

 the nearest collection of human habitations, which, probably, 

 would have been Newara Ellia. 



9.— Falco peregrinator, Sund. (2.) 



This fine Falcon, so rare in Ceylon, is seen occasionally about 

 the high cliffs of Fort Frederick, and is, I have no doubt, from 

 the abundance of food afforded it there, a permanent resident at 

 Pigeon Island. This islet is situated 14 miles north of Trinco- 

 malie at about 1^ miles from the mainland. Near this place, 

 about ^ mile nearer the shore, is another rocky islet, frequented 

 by flocks of Columba intermedia, which furnish many a dainty 

 meal for the Royal Falcon. Pigeon Island itself is rarely 

 visited, except by fishermen who can only land at the south 

 side, where there is a little beach backed by a tangled thicket, 

 which rises gradually to the pinnacle in the centre, whence the 

 northern side descends in the form of a perpendicular face right 



