456 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mar. 5, 



G. homalura, which Blyth says (' Ibis,' 1867, p. 302) " differs from 

 ft schoenicola in having a stouter bill, the whole upper parts much 

 darker, and the tail almost even, except that its outermost feathers 

 are "25 inch shorter than the next ;" but, except in some considerable 

 variation occasionally in the depth of the general rufous tint, there 

 was nothing to distinguish them from the grass-frequenting species 

 at Colombo. Mr. Layard tells me that the fine collection of Ceylon 

 birds he brought to England is now in such a state as to be useless 

 for scientific purposes ; and as I can obtain no specimens of C. homa- 

 lura for examination, I must regard that species as very doubtful 

 until further evidence is procured from the localities whence Layard 

 obtained his birds. 



C. schoenicola from Ceylon agrees with the European bird in size, 

 aud is larger than the Indian representative ; it has, however, the 

 same decided markings as the latter form, and they are even more 

 conspicuous. The dimensions given by Jerdon are greater than those 

 of any of the Indian specimens I have examined. 



Bill dusky above, flesh below ; hides pale yellow ; feet flesh- 

 colour. 



Ceylon, India to Europe, Africa, China, Hainan, Formosa. 



167. Drymoipus inornatus, Sykes. 



The difficulty in determining the species of Drymoipus is so well 

 known that it may prevent additional confusion if I mention that the 

 three species included in this list of Ceylon birds have been compared 

 with specimens in the British Museum, and satisfactorily identified 

 with the species there labelled with the names I have given. The 

 identification of at least one of the two Colombo species by myself 

 and Mr. Legge whilst I was in Ceylon was not correct ; and it is un- 

 certain to which of them Mr. Legge' s observations (J. R. A. S., C. B., 

 1870-71, p. 50) refer. 



I believe D. inornatus is not uncommon about Colombo ; but the 

 only specimen I brought to England came from Kandy, and agreed 

 with those in the British Museum in having the lores, throat, and 

 cheeks whitish, the whole under surface and flanks very light, with a 

 didl yellowish tinge, and a rather broad subterminal dusky band of 

 uniform tint on the under surface of the tail-feathers. The bill is 

 rather slight and black, with the base of the under mandible abruptly 

 pale (dried skin). The wing exactly 2 inches. Jerdon says of this 

 species, "in no case does the wing ever come up to 2 inches, more 

 generally If." I cannot think, however, there is any doubt about 

 this specimen being D. inornatus. Layard says the eggs of this 

 species are " verditer, with purplish blotches and wavy lines ;" Mr. 

 Legge gives " ground-colour clear blue-green, clouded here and there, 

 or blotched mostly towards the obtuse end, with sepia." It is doubtful 

 to which species either of these gentlemen refers. 



168. Drymoipus jerdoni, Blyth. 



The common Ceylon species, of which I have obtained speci- 

 mens close to Colombo, agrees perfectly with D. jerdoni, Blyth, in 



