446 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mai*. 5, 



133. Mertjla kinnisi (Kelaart), Blyth. 



Peculiar to Ceylon, and, I believe, confined to the upper hills. It 

 is very common at Nuwara Eliya, frequenting alike the edges of the 

 jungle and the gardens of the English houses, and often building in 

 the stables and outhouses. It has the habits generally of the English 

 Blackbird ; but its song is by no means so fine. 



The male has the whole upper surface black with a bluish-grey 

 tinge, the underparts more dingy ; the female has the upper colour 

 less intense, and is dark ashy brown below. Young birds have 

 the head and back brown, with the throat and breast mottled, the 

 feathers being pale-centred and with dark brown tips. 



Bill bright orange (adult), yellowish brown (young) ; irides brown ; 

 orbits yellow ; feet yellow. 



Ceylon. 



134. Oreocincla nilgiriensjs, Blyth. 



This handsome long-billed Thrush was described by Layard under 

 the name of Zoothera imbricata from a specimen received from Mr. 

 Thwaites, who probably obtained it on the hills. It has since been 

 recognized as the above species. I have examined two skins sent 

 home by Mr. Bligh, and Layard's specimen now in the British Mu- 

 seum ; and the scale-like appearance of their plumage, arising from 

 the black border to each feather, is well marked. 



"Bill corneous; legs brown" {Layard). 



Ceylon ; Neilgherries. 



135. Oreocincla spiloptera, Blyth. 



Peculiar to Ceylon. This is quite a jungle bird and not very un- 

 common in suitable places on the hills. Many specimens have been 

 procured in wild country not far from Kandy, and in the forest-land 

 adjoining the coffee estates between 2000 and 5000 feet high. I have 

 not met with it at Nuwara Eliya. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet pale brown. 



Ceylon. 



136. Pyctorhis sinensis, Gmel. 



Layard observed this bird in widely separated localities in the low 

 country, but does not speak of it as numerous. I have seen a spe- 

 cimen in the possession of Mr. Legge, R.A., at Colombo, which I 

 believe he told me was killed near his house ; and I have seen others 

 from the Kandy country. 



Ceylon, India to Burmah and China 1 



137. Alcippe nigrifrons, Blyth. 



Peculiar to Ceylon. This little bird is well distinguished from the 

 allied species A. atriceps by the greater part of the head being brown, 

 the black being confined to the forehead, and a broad streak through 

 the eye to the ear instead of covering the whole top of the head. 

 I have not seen this bird in the north of Ceylon ; and Layard does 



