442 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYI.ONESE BIRDS. [Mar. 5, 



observed it there at all seasons ; but it appears to have been mistaken 

 for E. melanops, Vigors, by both Kelaart and Layard, who evidently 

 refer to it under that name in their catalogues. A specimen sent by 

 Layard is in the British Museum, and is given in Gray's ' Hand-list' 

 (4897) as E. ceylonensis, n. sp. ? 



The general colour of the head, back, and outer edges of the quill- 

 feathers is a dark bluish grey ; throat and breast more dingy, and 

 becoming paler towards the vent ; forehead and chin bright blue ; 

 wings and tail dusky. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet black. 



Ceylon. 



125. Cyornis rubeculoides, Vigors. 



Probably only an occasional visitor to Ceylon. Layard records 

 having obtained a few specimens in the north of the island in October 

 1851 ; and I have examined specimens from Ceylon in Lord Walden's 

 collection. Examples of this species from Ceylon and Burmah differ 

 from Indian birds in having the orange colouring of the breast running 

 up the centre of the throat, a peculiarity pointed out to me by Lord 

 Walden. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah. 



126. Cyornis jerdoni, G. R. Gray. 



This species was at one time considered identical with C. banyu- 

 mas, Horsf., from Java, and is given under that name by Jerdon in 

 his ' Birds of India ;' but it has been separated by Mr. G. R. Gray as 

 distinct. It is a resident in Ceylon and not uncommon in the low 

 country between Colombo and Kandy, but has not been recognized 

 as being widely distributed. I have obtained specimens a few miles 

 from Colombo in July. Mr. Legge describes the female as being 

 brighter on the upper surface than the male, but this is not in ac- 

 cordance with what I have observed. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet lavender (brown in dry skins). 



S. India and Ceylon. 



127. Erythrosterna hyperythra, Cabanis. (Plate XVII.) 



This Robin Flycatcher was described in 1866 by Cabanis (Journ. 

 f Orn. p. 391) from a specimen sent from Ceylon by my friend Mr. 

 Nietner ; and that example (in the Berlin Museum) was, I believe, 

 the only one until now which had been brought to Europe. I was 

 fortunate enough to obtain two specimens of this species at Nuwara 

 Eliya in February 1870, and I have no doubt that it is not uncom- 

 mon on the hills at that season. Mr. Nietner probably obtained his 

 bird on his estate about 2000 feet below Nuwara Eliya; and further 

 inquiries may perhaps lead to its discovery on the Neilgherries*. 



* Since the above was written, a specimen of this Flycatcher has been sent 

 home from Goona, Central India. It is in full breeding-plumage, and was sup- 

 posed to be E. parva. It is very probable that these two species have been 

 confounded when not in full plumage, and that E. hyperythra is not so rare or 

 so local as appears lo be the case at present. 



