1872.] MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 461 



they are anchored in the harbour or roadstead, paying frequent visits 

 while tbey remain there, and only reluctantly leaving them at their 

 departure when they are two or three miles away. It is unnecessary 

 to say more of the well-known inquisitive, thievish habits of these 

 birds than that in Ceylon they fully keep up the character they have 

 obtained elsewhere. From the comparative localization of this bird 

 in the larger towns in the south-west of Ceylon, Mr. Hugh Nevill 

 has stated (Journ. Roy. Asiat. Soc, Ceylon Branch, 1870-71, p. 33) 

 that " there is no doubt it is not indigenous to the south of the is- 

 land, having been introduced by the Dutch at their various stations 

 as a propagator of cinnamon, the seeds of which it rejects uninjured." 

 I have been unable to discover on what evidence this statement has 

 been made. This Crow has certainly been in Ceylon long enough to 

 spread over every part of the island if its habits or inclinations had 

 led it to do so ; but on both sides of the island it is comparatively 

 local ; and whilst on a coasting voyage from Ceylon to Calcutta, and 

 calling at numerous places on my way, I found on the Indian coast 

 the same localization of this bird in the larger ports as is the case in 

 Ceylon. 



The Ceylon birds are smaller than those in India, and, according 

 to Blyth, are darker, but I have not had an opportunity of comparing 

 a sufficient number of specimens from the two countries to be able to 

 judge on this point. Jerdon says nothing of the neck changing from 

 ashy to a dull fawn-colour in old birds in India ; but this is the case in 

 Ceylon. The young birds are very dark on the neck ; and these may 

 possibly have been the subjects of Blyth's observations. Specimens 

 of this Crow from Ceylon and India are now, however, in the Gardens 

 of the Society, and will afford ready means of comparison of any 

 changes that may take place. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet black. 



Ceylon, India, Assam, Burmah? 



185. Cissa ornata, Wagler. 



Peculiar to Ceylon. This remarkably handsome species has at- 

 tracted some attention since it was described by Blyth as O. puella 

 from specimens forwarded by Layard ', but it had been previously 

 made known by Wagler. It is, so far as is known, essentially a hill 

 bird, found most abundantly at about 5000 feet and upwards, but at 

 certain seasons descending as low as 1500 feet. This is about the 

 elevation of Kandy ; and the jungles in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of that city, nearly in the centre of the island, appear to be the lower 

 limit of the range of this and many other hill species. In the cold 

 season, which is only really perceptible on the hills, these birds are 

 numerous at Nuwara Eliya, frequenting the dense bushes growing 

 under the trees in forest-jungle. They are very noisy, continually 

 uttering a harsh Jay-like scream, both when perched and flying. 

 There is consequently little difficulty in finding them out when they 

 are in the neighbourhood ; but from their keeping so much to the 

 dense jungle I have on several occasions worked my way quietly 

 through the bushes to within a few yards of the birds without being 



