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



13. Spilornis bacha, Daudin. 



Generally distributed over the island, frequenting trees on the 

 margin of tanks and marshy places in the low country, and near 

 open grass-land among forest-jungle on the hills. One specimen, 

 which I shot near Aripo, disgorged a Tree-snake (Passerita) more 

 than 3 feet long and nearly uninjured. Another, obtained at Nu- 

 wara Eliya, fell to the shot as if mortally wounded, although only 

 slightly injured in one wing; it soon recovered, and became suffi- 

 ciently tame to feed from my hand. I was fortunately enabled to 

 bring the bird with me to England ; and it is now alive in the 

 Society's Gardens. 



S. spilogaster, Blyth, from Ceylon, is now recognized as the im- 

 mature condition of S. bacha ; and there is no doubt that the 

 Hcematornis cheela, recorded by Layard as common in Ceylon, may 

 also be referred to the same species. 



Bill dusky ; irides golden yellow ; cere, legs, and feet dull yellow. 



Ceylon, S. India, Andamans, Malaya. 



14. Pandion haliaetus, Linn. 



Rare in Ceylon, and I have only seen it on one occasion ; it was 

 perched on a buoy in Galle Harbour ; and I was able to watch it 

 from a short distance for a considerable time. Lord Walden has 

 two specimens of it from Ceylon. 



Europe, Asia, Africa. 



15. PoLIOAETUS ICHTHYAETTJS, Horsf. 



■ This Eagle I have only seen in the north of the island, where it is 

 not uncommon near the coast. I shot an immature specimen at Aripo 

 in November 1866. The irides were brown, but Jerdon states (App. 

 B. of Ind. hi. p. 869) that in the adult bird they are pale yellow. 



Bill black ; "irides pale yellow ;" feet yellowish white. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah, Malaya. 



16. Haliaetus (Cunctjma) letjcogaster, Gmelin. 



This is the common Sea- Eagle of Ceylon, and is probably found 

 all round the island, although I do not remember having observed 

 it at the extreme south. It may occasionally be seen soaring over 

 Colombo Harbour and the adjoining lake ; but further north, in the 

 neighbourhood of Aripo and Mannar, several pairs of these noble 

 birds may generally be found, each generally in its own district, and 

 rarely wandering far away. In the strait separating the island of 

 Mannar, at the east end of Adam's Bridge, from the mainland of 

 Cevlon, the narrow channel for the passage of boats in the midst of 

 the expanse of shallow water around is marked here and there with 

 stakes ; and on these may generally be seen perched one or two pairs 

 of this Eagle, and sometimes a pair of PolioaUus ichthyaetus. As 

 the receding tide lays bare the extensive banks of soft mud on each 

 side the Eagles keep a sharp look-out for the crabs, which are abun- 

 dant just at the edge of the water, and, pouncing on their prey, sail 



