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



264. Gallinula phcenicura, Forster. 



This well-known species was first described and characteristically 

 figured by Forster (1781) from a Ceylon specimen. It is very com- 

 mon in suitable situations throughout the low country ; but I am not 

 aware that it is found on the hills, except near their foot. 



In what appears to be rather an old bird the upper part of the 

 back is irregularly barred with grey, and the chestnut is confined to 

 the sides of the rump and under tail-coverts. This was a male, and 

 when shot was in company with a presumed female and a small black 

 chick. Jerdon does not mention the characteristic white face and 

 forehead in his description of this species ; and I observe in the 

 British Museum a specimen from Malaya labelled G. phcenicura in 

 which the white is confined to the underparts. It appears to have 

 rather a stouter bill, and may be a distinct race or species, possibly 

 the one from which Jerdon took his description, in which he says 

 "irides blood-red, legs green." These chraacters do not agree with 

 the following in true G. phcenicura from Ceylon : — 



Bill green, ridge dull red ; irides brown ; legs and feet light yellow- 

 brown. 



Ceylon, India to Malaya, S. China, Formosa. 



265. Porzana pygm^ea, Naum. 



Layard records having obtained one specimen. 

 Ceylon, India, China, Japan. 



266. Porzana fusca, Linn. 



Recorded by Layard as rare. 

 Ceylon, India, E. Asia. 



267. Rallina ceylonica, Gmel. 



This bird arrives in Ceylon in October, just at the change of the 

 monsoon, and takes refuge in the first place of concealment it can find, 

 often entering the houses and hiding amongst the furniture. I have 

 caught the bird under these circumstances at the hotel at Colombo. 

 Although this Rail is only a winter visitor to Ceylon, specimens of it 

 from India appear to be rare, and the North-Indian race has been 

 separated by Blyth under the name of R. amauroptera. The dis- 

 tribution of the true R. ceylonica appears to be uncertain. 



Bill dusky above, green below ; irides red-brown ("carmine, with an 

 inner circle of yellow," Layard) ; feet leaden brown. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



268. Rallus striatus, Linn. 



Ceylon, India, Burmah to Malaya, Formosa. 



269. Rallus indicus, Blyth. 



Ceylon, India, Tientsin. 



These two species have both been recorded by Layard, but are said 

 to be rare. R. indicus is very close to R. aquaticus of Europe, but 



