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



doura and flavo-gularis in Lord Walden's collection are undistinguish- 

 able, except in having the under tail-coverts green margined with 

 white, entirely white, or white margined with yellow. Lord Walden's 

 opinion that these differences are due to season or age appears to me 

 likely to be correct ; if not, the number of species founded on the 

 colour of these particular feathers will have to be increased. 

 Ceylon, South India. 



208. Carpophaga sylvatica, Tickell. 



Recorded by Layard as mostly found on the mountain-zone. He 

 mentions it under the name of C. pusilla, Blyth ; but the difference 

 in size of this Pigeon from Ceylon and parts of India is not generally 

 recognized as of specific value. 



Ceylon, India to Burmah, and Hainan. 



209. Alsocomus puniceus, Tickell. 



This Pigeon, known to the Singhalese by a name literally trans- 

 lated " Season Pigeon," is recorded by Layard only as a rare visitor ; 

 and, according to the natives, " it appears during the fruiting of the 

 cinnamon-trees." I have never seen it. 



Ceylon, Eastern side of Central India, Assam, Arrakan, and Te- 

 nasserim. 



210. Paltjmbus torringtonwe, Kelaart. 



Peculiar to Ceylon. It is found in great abundance on the hills, 

 but changes its locality according to the season and the time at 

 which the fruit of particular trees ripens. I have found it nume- 

 rous at Nuwara Eliya at the end and beginning of the year ; and it 

 is occasionally found there at other times. It is allied to P. elphin- 

 stonei, Sykes, but differs essentially from it in having the back and 

 wings dark slaty, and the underparts strongly vinaceous. It is 

 known on the hills as the " Blue Pigeon." 



Bill dusky, tip pale green ; irides dark yellow ; feet fleshy red. 



Ceylon. 



Macropygia macroura (Gmelin). With reference to the occur- 

 rence of this species in Ceylon, as stated by Bonaparte, Lord Walden 

 has been good enough to send me the following note, with permis- 

 sion to make use of it : — 



" The titles Columba macroura, Gmel. (1788), and Columba mace- 

 rona, L. S. Midler (1776), were founded on the Tourocco of Buffou 

 (Hist. Nat. Ois. ii. p. 553, and PL Enl. 329). Buffon figured this 

 Pigeon from a Senegal example, presented by Adanson under the 

 name of Tourterelle a large queue du SSnSgal. But he afterwards 

 (Hist. Nat.) substituted for Adanson's title that of Tourocco, because, 

 as he says, while Adanson's bird possessed many of the characters 

 of the European Turtledove, it carried its tail like ' le Hocco ' (Crax). 

 Tourocco may therefore be translated Turtledove-Curassow. Buffon 

 is most circumstantial in his account of the locality whence his 

 bird was obtained ; and the fact that the specimen bore a title given 



