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FURTHER NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY 

 OF CEYLON. 

 'By Hugh Neyill, Esq., M. R. A. S. (Ceylon) F. Z, S. 



While travelling lately in the Central Province I was 

 much surprised to hear end see a large brown Owl^'HuJiua 

 ■Nipalensis Hodgson , similar to, hut very distinct from the 

 Bacha-muna or Fish owl, Ketwpa Ceyhnensis, Gmel. This 

 •bird, not hitherto recorded from Ceylon, was first, I be- 

 lieve, discovered by Mr. Blighe of Kandy, who showed me a 

 dried skin, obtained in that neighbourhood. It would 

 seem to be more crepuscular in habit than Ketwpa,, and 

 to replace it in the higher districts, the latter though com- 

 mon among the lower hills, as far as the Sea, not being 

 as yet known to frequent any elevation over 4,500 feet. 



During my recent residence at Kalpentyn and Puilam, 

 I have. had occasion frequently to cross and recross the large 

 lagoon of that District, and on one occasion I recognised, by 

 its long tail, t*he white Boatswain Bird, Phaeton Candidas, 

 Brisson, hovering over head. Being well acquainted with 

 •the species, I did not shoot it, under the hope that it might 

 •remain, but I have not seen it since. Mr. Holdsworth inform* 

 ^ed me he had also seen this bird, which must now be class- 

 ed as a rare visitant to our Island. 



In the month of April some of the islets in the same 

 1/agoon are visited by numerous species of waders, which 

 find a secure breeding place among the stunted mangrove 

 bushes. This year I saw several young nestlings of the 



* While on recent tour in the Hills, I saw one of these birds in 

 the Knuckles district and learnt that it has been several times shot o£ 

 late years, one or two skins having been sent home in private collec- 

 tions. It is found in the wooded nullahs and ravines intersecting 

 "iko higher patinas. — Ed, 



