Description of two Birch new to the recorded Fauna of Ceytori* 

 By H. Nevill, Esq. 



The announcement that two birds have been discovered 

 new to the recorded Fauna of the Island, which I to-day 

 have the pleasure of making to the Society, is accompanied 

 by circumstances rendering it noteworthy. 



Both species are from the country round Nuwara Eliya 1 * 

 and both are already known as denizens of the Nilgherry 

 Hills of the continent. 



The first, a solitary snipe, possesses no great interest, 

 as the birds of that genus are known to have a wide range ; 

 but the second, a Flycatcher of feeble flight, is one of those 

 instances of the repetition of a species in isolated local ities^ 

 that for the present are unaccountable, and act as a bar to 

 all but idle speculation ; and, as it is only by patiently and 

 carefully tracing each link, that we can hope ever to find 

 the original chains that bound our Island to the Continent 

 or other tracts now covered by the sea, each species held in 

 common between two such widely separated highland dis- 

 tricts, brings us a step nearer to the original bond of affinity 

 or source of community. 



The Snipe, Scolopax nemoricola, Hodg.> is found among 

 low bushes at the edge of swampy Patina lands, and is 

 scarce. 



Its flight is similar to the first rise of the Woodcock, 

 but it drops quickly, as that bird does at certain seasons; 

 and hence it is very probable that the Scolopax rusticola, 

 L ., entered as a native of Ceylon in Sir E. Tennent's list of 



