INTRODUCTION. xxvii 



As the system of spelling has recently been changed, I have followed, to the best of my 

 knowledge, the new method, but which, however, I am bound to remark, is subject to variation* 

 at the hands of those who conform to it. For instance, the names of some places are spelt 

 differently in the road-maps of the Surveyor-General and in that published by the editor of the 

 ' Observer ' ; for example, the name of a celebrated tank is spelt " Kantalay " in the one and 

 " Kantaleyi " in the other, whereas, after the old spelling " Kandelay '' was abolished, the word 

 used to be spelt by some civil servants " Kanthelai," and as such it appears in this work. My 

 readers will therefore, I trust, bear with the somewhat variable orthography of Ceylonese names 

 in the ' Birds of Ceylon.' 



In the early part of the work the name of the territorial division "Pattuwa" will be found, in 

 some instances, incorrectly spelt " Pattu " but in the map, compiled from road-maps of Provinces, 

 kindly furnished me by Col. Fyers, R.E., I have followed in all instances the new method of 

 spelling. The figures indicating the rainfall are taken from tables likewise furnished me by the 

 Surveyor-General . 



As regards the nidificatiqn paragraph, I regret to say, as far as local students are concerned, 

 that I have been compelled largely to quote from Mr. Hume's ' Nests and Eggs,' owing to the 

 difficulty in obtaining information about, or finding one's self, the nests of birds in Ceylon. Yet 

 the admirable notes contained in that work are perhaps better than those which I could have 

 obtained in the island. If, however, the Appendix be consulted much interesting additional 

 information will be found supplied by my valued correspondent Mr. Parker, who has done more 

 in Ceylonese oology than any recent collector. 



It now remains for me to return my grateful thanks to the many ornithologists, naturalists, 

 and collectors who have furnished me with assistance and information, and placed their valuable 

 collections at my disposal during the time I have been compiling this work. I am much 

 indebted, first and foremost, to Dr. Giinther, Director of the Zoological Department of the 

 British Museum, and to Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, Senior Assistant of the same ; for, through the 

 kind permission of the former, the vast collections, both mounted and in the skin, were 

 placed at my disposal for purposes of comparison with my own ; while the latter, under whose 

 care these collections are placed, rendered me every assistance in the procuring and examination 

 of the large series of specimens that it was necessary to examine, and was always ready and 

 willing to impart information on difficult points with which his great experience and unexcep- 

 tionally central position enabled him successfully to deal. Again, to Mr. Seebohm I am highly 

 indebted for having placed at my disposal his large collections, the extensive Chinese series of 

 skins collected by the late Mr. Swinhoe being of great service for purposes of comparison ; also to 

 Mr. Howard Saunders, who, as regards his particular group (the Larkke), furnished me with much 

 assistance. To Messrs. Gurney, Harting, Dresser, Sclater, Salvin, and Godman my thanks are likewise 



* Letters sent me from Mannar, spelt thus correctly by the writer, are impressed with the post-mark Manaar ! 



