398 A LIST OF BIRDS COLLECTED AND 



These dimensions, excepting the length of the bill, are uniformly 

 larger than those given by Jerdon. 



* 232.— Cinnyris zeylonicus, Lin. 



Obtained a pair at the Eastern base of the hills and observed 

 a few others. Probably they are more abundant around gardens 

 in the plain. 



[Specimen of a young female, undoubtedly of this species, 

 measured in the flesh as follows : — 



Length, 3*9; expanse, 6 - 2 ; wing, 20 (in the skin, 1*95); 

 tail, 1'3 ; tarsus, 065 ; bill from gape, 06 ; weight, 038 oz., 

 and had the bill dusky black ; the gape reddish ; the legs and feet 

 blackish olive. It has the whole upper surface brown with an 

 olive green tinge ; quills light hair brown, for the most part 

 very narrowly tipped and margined towards the tips with 

 brownish white, and the central and basal portions of the outer 

 webs of all but the first few primaries, more broadly margined 

 with olive brown ; upper tail-coverts blackish ; tail blackish ; 

 the exterior feathers on either side paler brown and tipped with 

 brownish white. 



Entire under parts pale, slightly greenish yellow, a little 

 brighter on the breast ; wing lining white. 



I have never seen a specimen of this species exactly in this 

 stage. This one was shot on the 6th June at Periakulam, 

 Palanis. 



The bird is no bigger than a S. minima, the bill is just the 

 game length as in adults of that species ; the wing is not longer 

 than that of a fine adult of minima, and but for the coarser 

 character of the bill, which is not near so attennuted towards 

 the point, and for the white tippings to the outer tail-feathers, 

 any one would, I think, rather assign it to minima than to 

 zeylonica. — Ed., S. F.] 



* 233.— Cinnyris minimus, Sykes. 



I found this species common from 4,000 feet elevation to 

 the top of the hills. They were in their summer dress. The 

 males lacked the glossy greeu cap and amethystine throat and 

 neck. Their caps, napes, and a little of the back were colored 

 olive green. But the color was a little brighter than that of 

 the same parts in the female. The throat and neck were yellow 

 with an olive tinge, brightening into a purer yellow on the 

 breast and abdomen. The scapulars and the back between the 

 wings were bright maroon red. The rump was covered with 

 glossy metallic amethystive just as it is in the nuptial dress of* 



* The time at which the breeding plumage is assumed varies much in differeut 

 localities.— Ejd., S. F. 



