4/0 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mar. 5, 



meat, as large numbers of them are brought alive to the Colombo 

 market from Tuticorin on the Indian coast ; Mr. Legge, however, 

 has also seen the bird at Galle. This species is indigenous in the 

 north, and is always very abundant at Aripo. The large compound 

 surrounding my house at that place was virtually nothing but a con- 

 siderable piece of jungle fenced in, and was frequented by many 

 kinds of wild animals and birds. Partridges were very numerous 

 there ; and they might be seen or heard at all hours of the day, and 

 often within a few yards of the house. They roosted in low bushes. 



Bill dusky ; irides brown ; feet dull red. 



Ceylon, South, Central, and North-west India, Persia? 



221. Perdicula asiatica, Lath. 



Layard mentions having seen a pair of these birds which were 

 caught alive near Colombo. He speaks of it under the name of 

 P. argoondah, Sykes. 



Ceylon, South India. 



222. Excalfactoria chinensis, Linn. 



I have seen this bird from Kandy and the cinnamon-gardens at 

 Colombo; and Layard says it is common in the south. 

 Ceylon, India, eastward to China, Malaya, Australia. 



223. Turnix taigoor, Sykes. 



Common in all parts of the low country. I have found its eggs 

 at Aripo in February. 



Bill lead-colour ; irides pale yellow ; feet pale leaden. 

 Ceylon, India. 



224. Cursorius coromandelicus, Gmel. 



I believe the Indian Courser is resident in the north of Ceylon, 

 as I have seen it in almost every month of the year at Aripo. It 

 is more numerous, however, in the winter months, being then in small 

 parties of six or eight. Its flight is heavy and flapping, like that of the 

 Lapwings ; but it runs lightly and fast ; and when separated from its 

 companions, I have more than once seen it running along behind 

 the bund of a dry paddy-field, with head lowered and wings trailing 

 on the ground, presenting a most curious appearance, as the colour 

 of the back resembled that of the dry mud, and there was nothing 

 to attract attention but the drooping black primaries. Layard ap- 

 pears to have occasionally met with this bird, but only in April. 



Bill black ; irides dark brown ; feet cream-colour. 



Ceylon, Central and West India. 



225. Charadrius fulvus, Gmel. 



Charudrius longipes, Temm., apud Jerdon. 



The Ceylon birds have the ash-coloured axillary plume charac- 

 teristic of this species ; they are migratory, appearing at Aripo in 

 August, many of them then having some remains of the black 



