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



314. Thalasseus medius, Horsf. 

 Thalasseus benc/alensis, Less., apud Jerdon. 



A Tern apparently of this species is very common. 



315. Onychoprion an^esthetus, Scop. 



I do not know this Tern ; but Layard mentions having obtained 

 three specimens. 



316. Phaeton rubricauda, Bodd. 



During my annual cruises on the Ceylon coast, I have seen this 

 bird sufficiently near to identify it with certainty, as it hovered over 

 the vessel. All the Tropic birds I have seen there, however, have 

 had white tails ; and, as I find among my notes mention of one in- 

 stance of the bill being red, I conclude that bird was an immature 

 example of the above species. I am very confident I have also seen 

 the yellow-billed species, P. flavirostris, Brandt, but I have no 

 special record of the colour of the bill. I shall therefore only call 

 the attention of future observers to that species. 



317. Sula fiber, Linn. 



In February and March 1868 I had many opportunities of watch- 

 ing a pair of Boobies which frequented the neighbourhood of the 

 Aripo pearl-banks, about ten miles from the land. They used often 

 to perch on a large iron buoy close to my usual anchorage at night. 

 I only saw them during that one season ; and they have not been 

 otherwise recorded. 



318. Attagen minor, Gmelin. 

 Attagen ariel, Gould. 



Frigate-birds have been killed in several localities on the west 

 coast ; and I have observed them on many occasions at Aripo during 

 the strength of the south-west monsoon. They were generally in 

 parties of five or six, and at a considerable height above the shore. 

 Their action, as they hung as it were against the gale, slowly sway- 

 ing, first on one side, then on the other, strongly reminded me of 

 the behaviour of a large paper kite when it has mounted high in the 

 air. Without any perceptible movement of their partially extended 

 wings, these birds remained as if suspended in the air, but very 

 slowly working against the wind, and gradually advancing along the 

 line of beach. Layard mentions these birds under the name of A. 

 ariel, Gould, a species from the Australian seas, but which also has 

 been recorded by Swinhoe from Amoy. 



A. aquilus, Linn., is found in the Indian seas ; and it is not un- 

 likely that some of the Frigate-birds seen on the Ceylon coast may 

 belong to that species. 



-319. Pelecanus philippensis, Gmel. 



I have seen Pelicans near Trincomalie.. and at the entrance to 

 Kokeley Lake, on the north-east coast. Their breeding-stations 



