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



85. Lamprococcyx maculatus, Gmel. 



This beautiful Emerald Cuckoo was first made known from Ceylon, 

 and appears to be the one given by Kelaart and Layard in their 

 Catalogue (1853) under the name of Cuculus xanthorhynchos, Horsf., 

 a Malay species. I have seen no specimens of it ; and it is un- 

 doubtedly rare. 



Ceylon, India. 



86. Coccystes jacobinus, Bodd. 



C. melanoleucos, Gmel. ; Jerdon, B. of Ind. no. 212. 



Common in the north of the island. These birds are always 

 numerous in the Aripo district, frequenting bushes and low trees, and 

 usually perching on the highest branches. In December and January 

 (the commencement of the breeding-season with many birds in Cey- 

 lon) they are very noisy and incessantly flying from one place to an- 

 other, one or more males apparently chasing the female, and uttering 

 their clamorous cries. Layard mentions finding a young Cuckoo of 

 this species under the care of a pair of Mud-birds (Mal.acocercus) ; 

 and, from the frequent battles I observed between this Cuckoo and 

 a pair of Malacocercus stria tits which were nesting in a low tree 

 close to my house, I have no doubt that the Black-and-white Crested 

 Cuckoo frequently lays its eggs in the nest of that common Babbler. 



Bill black ; irides red-brown ; feet lead-colour. 



Ceylon, India, Africa. 



87. Coccystes coromandus, Linn. 



I believe this handsome Cuckoo is very scarce in Ceylon. I have 

 only seen two specimens, both from the Kandy district. 

 Bill black ; irides reddish brown ; feet lead-colour. 

 Ceylon, India, Burmah, Malaya. 



88. Eudynamis honorata, Linn. 



Formerly known as E. orientalis, Linn. 



Layard says of this bird in Ceylon : — " Wherever Crows are found, 

 there the Coel is found also." I have only seen this bird, however, 

 during the N.E. monsoon, from November to April. During this 

 period it is very common in the Aripo district ; and I have also 

 found it numerous near Colombo. After April, I have never met 

 with the species until towards the end of the year. I believe it is a 

 true migratory bird. Among the specimens I have shot in January 

 and February is a young male in the spotted plumage, but having 

 the top of the head rusty brown ; in other respects the colours are 

 the same as, but purer than, those in the female. These Cuckoos 

 are very noisy in the morning and evening. 



Bill dull green ; irides crimson ; feet slate-colour. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah, N. Malaya, S. China. 



89. Zanclostomus viridirostris, Jerdon. 



This is a low-countrv species, and, so far as I know, not extending 



