430 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mar. S, 



77. XantholjEma indica, Lath. 



Layard speaks of this bird under the name of Megalaima philip- 

 pensis. It is confined to the north. I have only met with it at Aripo, 

 where it is found throughout the year. Perched on some dead branch 

 near the top of a tree, with its throat swelling and its head bowing 

 at the utterance of each note, this handsome little Barbet repeats its 

 monotonous cry of poohp, poohp, poohp for half an hour at a time, 

 with only occasional intervals of a minute or so. Whilst thus en- 

 gaged it changes the direction of its head with every note ; and to 

 this I think is mainly due the often noticed variation in the sound ; 

 but the range of direction is a full semicircle ; and after often listen- 

 ing to the bird from different positions, I have no doubt that the 

 voice is also dropped a little when the head is turned quite on one 

 side. In Ceylon, as in India, this bird is known by the name of 

 " coppersmith ;" and that title is also applied about Colombo to the 

 following species. 



Bill black; hides red-brown ; feet pink. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah, Malaya. 



78. Xanthol^ema rubricapilla, Gmel. 



Peculiar to Ceylon, and common in the low country in the southern 

 half of the island. I have also frequently seen it at Trincomalie ; 

 and Layard has procured it at Jaffna ; but I have never met with 

 it in the Aripo district. It is very common about Colombo. The 

 note of this bird is very much like that of X. indica, but is not 

 nearly so loud, and is repeated quickly four or five times without a 

 pause ; then resting for three or four seconds, the bird goes on as 

 before. The call of X. indica sounds like distinct heavy blows of a 

 hammer on a copper vessel heard in the distance ; that of X. ru- 

 bricapilla like a series of light taps on the same metal. 



Bill greyish black ; hides red-brown ; feet pink. 



Ceylon. 



In a young bird I obtained in July near Colombo the bright 

 colours about the head and neck were not developed, except a small 

 patch of orange below the eye and a tinge of yellow on the forehead. 

 The bill was dark grey ; irides pale brown, and feet dusky flesh. 



79. Cuculus canortjs, Linn. 



Recorded by Layard as found in Ceylon. He obtained one ex- 

 ample of it near Colombo; but I have not met with it. 

 Asia, Africa, Europe. 



80. Cuculus sonneratii, Latham. 



Kelaart procured several specimens ; and I have seen it from near 

 Colombo and the lower hills. 

 Ceylon, S. India. 



81. Cuculus micropterus, Gould. 



This Cuckoo was recorded by Dr. Kelaart as a mountain species ; 



