18/2.] MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE UIRDS. 425 



60. Hydrocissa coronata, Bodd. 



Confined to wild forest jungle in the central and northern parts 

 of the island. I have seen it occasionally a few miles from Aripo ; 

 and whilst travelling through an extensive tract of forest on the road 

 between Kandy and Trincomalie, small parties of these birds were 

 frequently observed on the tops of the trees, or slowly sailing across 

 the road from one part of the forest to the other. In the early 

 mornings their harsh cries mingled discordantly with the howlings 

 of Monkeys (Presbytes), the call of the Jungle-fowl, and the more 

 musical notes of the Long-tailed Robin (Kittacincla), almost the only 

 sounds to be heard in this primitive jungle, far from the borders of 

 cultivation, and only disturbed by occasional travellers or the bell of 

 the light-stepping postal runner. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



61. Tockus gingalensis, Shaw. 



Considerable confusion has existed between this species and T. 

 griseus, Latham ; and it is desirable to mention that the species pro- 

 perly known as T. gingalensis is only found in Ceylon. Under the 

 above heading Jerdon has inadvertently spoken of both in his ' Birds 

 of India,' but he has since corrected the mistake (Ibis, 1872, p. 5). 



Tockus gingalensis is, according to Layard, not uncommon in 

 certain districts ; and Lord Walden has received several specimens 

 of it. It keeps, I believe, mostly to the forests ; and I have only 

 once obtained it at Aripo, where its harsh cry betrayed its presence 

 on a low tree close to my house. The colour and shape of the bill 

 in this bird vary a good deal with age. 



Bill yellowish, more or less marked with black ; irides reddish 

 brown ; feet slate grey. 



Ceylon. 



Tockus griseus, Lath., is said by Jerdon to be also found in 

 Ceylon ; but I cannot hear of any well authenticated specimens. 



62. PaLuEornis alexandri, Linn. 



Bill red ; irides buff; feet slate. 

 Ceylon, India, N. Burmah. 



63. Pal^eornis TORauATus, Bodd. 



Bill red ; irides buff ; feet slate. 

 Ceylon, India, W. Asia, Tropical Africa? 



These two species are exceedingly abundant in the north of 

 Ceylon ; but I have not seen them on the hills or in the south. 



64. Pal,eornis rosa, Bodd. 



I have only met with this species in the southern parts of Ceylon, 

 where it is very destructive to the grain crops ; but it is also found 

 at times on the lower hills generally. I have seen a flock of fifty of 

 these birds fly down one after another to a field of paddy ; and each 

 biting off a ear of the green corn, return to a neighbouring tree to 



