1851.] species of Birds inhabiting Ceylon, 177 



are } in. shorter than the next. The prevailing hue of the upper- 

 parts is dusky-black, with much narrower rufescent lateral margins to 

 the feathers than in C. cursitans, the rump however being unmixed 

 rufescent as in that species, and the neck much tinged with the same. 

 One specimen has some dark markings on the breast ; and another in 

 first plumage greatly resembles the adults, and is conspicuously differ- 

 ent from the young of C. cursitans. This species was long ago 

 procured by Mr. Layard, and therefore is probably not peculiar to 

 the mountains or their vicinity. From the whole of India we have 

 only seen C. cursitans, which likewise inhabits Ceylon. Numerous 

 African species of this genus have however been figured and described 

 by Dr. Riippell and Dr. Andrew Smith, and five Australian species by 

 Mr. Gould (whose C. RUFrcEPS we take to be merely the young of 

 his C. isura). From Drymoica they differ structurally in having 

 twelve tail-feathers instead of ten only. 



Merula Wardii, Jerdon. Both sexes of this species are sent, the 

 female being the Oreocincla micropus of Mr. Hodgson. 



M. Kinnisii, Kelaart, n. s. The Blackbird of Newera Elia. 

 Female, above ashy-black, below rather paler ; bill and feet bright yellow. 

 Length about 9 in., of wing A\ in., and tail 4 in, ; bill to gape 1^ in. ; 

 and tarse the same. 1st short primary 1^ in. shorter, and 2d ^ in. 

 shorter, than the 4th. The last character distinguishes this species 

 readily from M. simillima and M. nigropileus of S.India; as 

 also from M. brachypus, nobis («7. A. S. XVI, 148), likewise of S. 

 India, but which appears to be Latham's ' Black-crowned Thrush,' 

 from Ceylon. The wings are even more rounded than in M. 

 vulgaris ; and the species would seem to be closely affined to M. 

 xanthoscelis, (Jardine, Contrib. Orn. t 1848,) from Tobago. "The 

 male," writes Dr. Kelaart, "is blacker and more glossy. In notes 

 and habits resembling M. vulgaris." 



Pratincola atrata, Kelaart, n. s. The * Robin' of Newera Elia. 

 Both sexes similar to those of Pr. caprata, except that they are much 

 larger, with a proportionally rather stouter bill ; and the female is 

 much less rufescent. Wing 3^ in. in the male ; 3 in. in the female. 

 "Notes and habits very like those of the English Robin" (Kelaart). 

 Pr. caprata inhabits the less elevated parts of the island. 



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