1872.] MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 421 



taken from a Ceylon specimen, but that the one from S. India is 

 probably the same. 

 Ceylon, S. India? 



45. Caprimulgus kelaarti, Blyth. 



This species, first discovered in Ceylon, is entirely confined to the 

 hills, ranging from about 2000 feet upwards, and common in the 

 Nuwara Eliya district. It is very noisy during March and April, at 

 the commencement of the breeding-season, appearing with great 

 regularity a few minutes after sunset from its accustomed hiding-place 

 in the thick jungle. I have reason to think this Nightjar leaves the 

 upper hills during the cold season and descends to a more temperate 

 climate. 



Bill dusky ; irides dark brown ; feet fleshy brown. 



Ceylon, Neilgherries. 



46. Caprimulgus atripennis, Jerdon. 



Tolerably common near Colombo and in the south ; I have also 

 obtained it in the interior, about twenty miles from Trincomalie. It 

 is, I believe, a low-country bird ; and I have not met with it above 

 the foot of the hills. 



The specific distinctness of this Nightjar was hardly ascertained 

 when Layard published his " Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon;" 

 and when he speaks of so rare and remarkably coloured a species as 

 C. mahrattensis, Sykes, being " abundant in the vicinity of Colombo 

 and throughout the southern province," and that bird has not been 

 met with in Ceylon by any subsequent collector, it is not unreason- 

 able to conclude that the species intended is that which I have since 

 identified as C. atripennis from the same localities. 



Bill dusky; irides brown ; feet pale brown. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



47. Caprimulgus astaticus, Latham. 



Common in the low country, especially in the northern half of the 

 island, where it is resident. I have found it breeding in September 

 at Aripo, its two eggs being deposited on a bare sandy spot under the 

 shelter of a bush. At Colombo it is numerous in the cinnamon-gar- 

 dens during at least part of the year, hiding during the day at the 

 foot of the bushes ; but 1 have no recollection of seeing this bird in 

 the south of the island. Ceylon specimens are very grey compared 

 with those from India, a good series of the latter which I have 

 examined having all a conspicuous rufous tinge on the upper sur- 

 face. This is only observable in Ceylon birds in young specimens. 

 There is another point in connexion with this species to which I wish 

 to direct attention ; and it may be desirable to extend it to other species 

 of Caprimulgidse. Jerdon and other authors have been accustomed 

 to group the species of Caprimulgi in accordance with the number of 

 tail-feathers which have a white terminal spot, this spot being sup- 

 posed to be found only in the male. I need hardly say that it is only 

 too common for collectors to omit any notice of the sex of the birds 



