1851.] species of Birds inhabiting Ceylon, 1/9 



instance, as Turtur risorius (ferus), T. vinaceus, and T. bitor- 

 quatus, or T. orientalis and T. auritus. It differs from the 

 Nilgiri race in having the back and wings plain dark slaty, without 

 a trace of ruddy margining to the feathers ; the head, neck, and under- 

 pays are also tinged with vinaceous more than with green, and the 

 reddish-purple gloss — especially about the lower part of the neck 

 behind, where it contrasts abruptly with the ashy of the back, — is con- 

 siderably more brilliant. It is altogether a handsomer bird than that 

 of the Nilgiris. " The habits of this Pigeon," writes Dr. Kelaart, 

 " are strictly arboreal ; it flies high and swiftly. It comes to Newera 

 Elia to breed ; and I have seen a nest with only one egg, as large as 

 that of the domestic Pigeon. The stomach contained fruits of the Nelon" 

 (?) " Sexes nearly alike." 



Dr. Kelaart further writes, from Newera Elia — " Among other birds, 

 I have found here the Collocalia brevirostris" (sent), Cuculus 

 micropterus, Gallus Stanleyi, Galloperdix zeylonensis, 

 Athene castanotus, and Pericrocotus flammeus, &c. ; a little 

 lower down, the Gracula ptilogenys and Gr. beligiosa ; and about 

 1000 ft. below Newera Elia, the Hypsipetes nilgiriensis." 



The following species of birds are peculiar (so far as at present 

 known) to the island of Ceylon. 



Paljeornis calthrap;e, Layard, J. A. S. XVIII, 800, XIX, 334. 



Loriculus asiaticus, (Latham), J. A, S. XVIII, 801. 



Buceros violaceus, "Wagler (non vidimus)) J. A. S. XVIII, 803. 



Picus gymnopthalmos, nobis, J. A. S. XVIII, 804. 



Brachypternus ceylonus, (Forster). 



Br. (?) rubescens, Vieillot (non vidimus), 



Megalaima flavifrons, (Cuvier). 



M. rubricapilla, (Gmelin). 



Centropus chlororhynchos, nobis, J, A, S. XVIII, 805. 



Phcenicophaus pyrrhocephalus, (Forster). 



Batrachostomus moniliger, Layard, nobis, J. A. S. XVIII, 

 806. 



Cissa puella, nobis, J. A. S, XVIII, 810. 



Gracula ptilogenys, nobis, J, A, S. XV, 285. 



Garrulax cinereifrons, nobis, ante, 



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