1872.] MR. E.W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. 469 



ultimately took to the jungle. Some others, which, however, were 

 reared in an aviary at Colombo by my friend Dr. Boake, became 

 quite tame, and were in good feather when he kindly allowed me to 

 send them to London for the Society's Gardens ; but they all died 

 when they were almost within sight of England. 



Mr. Blyth can hardly be correct in his description of the head 

 and appendages in this species. He says (Ibis, 1867, p. 307), 

 " The cock has a yellow comb with a red edge, and the cheeks 

 and wattles (as I remember them in the living bird) are chiefly 

 yellow." His description of the colour of the comb is approxi- 

 mately correct, as the extent of the yellow varies in different spe- 

 cimens; but I am too familiar with the appearance of the living or 

 freshly killed bird to have any doubt about the cheeks and wattles 

 being red. These parts assume a dark livid appearance a few hours 

 after death ; but the yellow in the comb remains, and is evident even 

 in old dry skins. The size of the comb and wattles varies, and pro- 

 bably depends on age. 



The following details were taken from a fine adult cock I killed at 

 Aripo, and were noted down on the spot : — 



Bill brown, front of the lower mandible pale yellow ; irides buff ; 

 comb, wattles, and naked skin about the head purplish red, the comb 

 having a large wing-shaped spot of yellow occupying the middle of 

 the posterior half, very bright at its origin immediately over the eye, 

 and shading off at its margin into the colour of the comb ; feet and 

 legs pale yellow. 



Ceylon. 



218. Galloperdix bicalcarata, Forst. 



Peculiar to Ceylon ; abundant on many parts of the hills, and 

 frequenting also jungly places in the low parts of the southern half 

 of the island. During the winter months it is numerous in the coffee- 

 districts and upper hills, and is trapped in large numbers by the 

 natives. It is skulking in its habits and difficult to flush, usually 

 seeking concealment in the thicker parts of the jungle when it is dis- 

 turbed. They bear confinement well in Ceylon ; but some specimens 

 I brought to England, although apparently strong and well on their 

 arrival, all died within three days after the ship entered the Thames. 



Bill red J , dusky $ ; irides brown ; feet fleshy red. 



Ceylon. 



219. Francolinus pictus, Jard. & Selby. 



The occurrence of this species, said to have been well identified, 

 was noticed three or four years ago in one of the Colombo news- 

 papers. I did not see the specimens, and I cannot now give the 

 precise date or particulars of where they were obtained. 



Ceylon, Central India. 



220. Ortygornis ponticeriana, Gmel. 



Common in the north of Ceylon, and found also in the cinnamon- 

 gardens at Colombo. These birds may have escaped from confine- 



