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



of birds ; the waters on the coast and inland swarm with fishes ; the 

 country is alive with insects and reptiles ; and vegetation is most luxu- 

 riant in its growth ; food of all kinds abounds ; and there is no winter 

 in the low country. It is no wonder, therefore, that species and 

 individuals are numerous ; but although I have, I believe, been able 

 to add something to the good work done by Mr. Layard, the subject 

 is yet far from being exhausted, and much remains to be done in 

 examining the eastern side of the island generally, in discriminating 

 many of the wading birds, and in working out the Terns and other 

 birds found on the coast. 



In this Catalogue I have followed Jerdon's arrangement of the 

 species as given in his ' Birds of India,' and have adopted the names 

 he uses, except in a few cases where older titles may be more pro- 

 perly employed. 



1. Falco peregrinus, Gmelin. 

 Europe, Asia. 



2. Falco peregrinator, Sund. 

 Ceylon, India, W. Asia. 



3. Hypotriorchis chicquera, Daud. 



Ceylon, India. 



These species are recorded by Layard as found in Ceylon ; but they 

 have not come under my notice. 



3 bis. Hypotriorchis severus, Horsf. 



In a collection of birds sent home by Mr. S. Bligh, and consisting 

 entirely of hill species shot by himself in one of the coifee-districts, 

 is an undoubted specimen of the Indian Hobby, an unexpected addi- 

 tion to the list of Ceylon birds. It was killed whilst hawking after 

 dragonflies. 



Ceylon, N. India, Malacca, Java, Philippines. 



4. TlNNTJNCULUS ALAUDARIUS, Gmel. 



The Kestrel is widely distributed in Ceylon ; I have seen it, how- 

 ever, most frequently in the northern part of the island, and a pair 

 of these birds for many weeks frequented a small clump of cocoa-nut 

 palms near my house at Aripo. I have also observed it at Nuwara 

 Eliya during winter ; and it is often met with in the coffee-districts. 

 Although probably a migrant, it certainly spends several months in 

 Ceylon. 



Europe, Asia. 



5. Astur trivirgatus, Temm. 



This is a hill species, and not very uncommon. I have examined 

 specimens of the bird in Ceylon, and have now before mc a very 

 good one killed by Mr. Forbes Laurie. 



Mountains in Ceylon and India. 



