No. 29.— 1884.] BALANGODA ORNITHOLOGY. 



287 



104. Passer domesticus, the Common House-sparrow. I omit 

 further remarks as being unnecessary. 



105. Passer ? the Olive-brown Sparrow. Early in the 



present year, or towards the close of last, when on a snipe-shooting 

 expedition, — I have unfortunately forgotten the date, — my atten- 

 tion was drawn to the noisy chirrup of seemingly thousands of 

 sparrows, in a clump of "rambukkan " grass. On getting closer 

 a dense cloud of these birds got up, and settled down again in 

 another clump of rambukkan, about fifty yards from where I stood. 

 I fired, and secured three or four birds. They appeared to be in 

 mature plumage, and all much alike in colouration. On my 

 returning to the resthouse with a few snipe and these sparrows, 

 unfortunately the servants picked out the latter, and seemingly 

 threw them away as useless, — at any rate they were gone, and 

 without any further written notes regarding size, &c. I have 

 never to my knowledge met with this species before or since, and 

 am incliued to consider them new. Colour of iris, as well as 

 I can remember, was brown, billumber, and tarsus straw - 

 brown. 



106. Motacilla melanope, the Grey Wagtail. A migrant, 

 arriving during the first week in September and departing again 

 in April. During their stay there is scarcely a stream, be it in 

 the most gloomy forest or open and cultivated land, that has not 

 got its Wagtail actively running about, peeping and peering into 

 each crook and corner for food. It is equally common in paddy 

 fields, where it runs along the " bunds " with the same restless 

 activity as it does elsewhere. 



107. Limonidromus Indicus, the Wood Wagtail. I have only 

 three or four times met with this graceful little bird, and each time 

 during the N.E. monsoon, and at about 2,000 feet elevation. 



108. Corydalla rufula, the Common Pipit. Not uncommon 

 throughout the district, and rather more numerous in the N.E. 

 than the S.W. monsoon. It is much more common on the Halpe 

 and Kalupahana side of the district than towards the centre or 

 western side. 



109. Munia Kelaarti, the Hill Munia, or Bunting. Very 

 numerous throughout the district. I have shot numbers in 

 the paddy fields near Balangoda, though I observe Legge 

 remarks (pp. 651) that " it is essentially an Alpine bird, not being 

 found below 2,000 feet, and not very numerous at that height." 

 It breeds from March to about the end of the S.W. monsoon, 



