No. 29. — 1884.] BOGAWANTALAWA ORNITHOLOGY. 



293 



needless, if not inopportune here, to speak, when a mere 

 catalogue of observations upon specimens is the object of 

 the writer. 



1. Astur irivirgatus, the Crested Goshawk. I saw one ex- 

 ample of this Goshawk on the Balangoda side of the range, and 

 Mr. Roberts spoke of having seen one on or near his estate. 

 September is very early to find this bird on the hills, though I am 

 inclined to think that a few individuals may spend the whole year 

 in the Island. During the dry months from February to May, these 

 birds are comparatively numerous, though at no time very common. 

 They affect clumps of forest situated in patana lands, migrating at 

 times over the coffee estates, where they prey upon the common 

 green Calotes, so well known in the high districts. 



2. Spizcetus Kelaarti, the Mountain Hawk Eagle. I saw a 

 pair of these birds one morning circling round a piece of flat land 

 near the jungle, on the Fetteresso estate. This was the only 

 occasion that I can remember meeting with this eagle. 



3. Elanus cceruleus, the Black-shouldered Kite. I saw two 

 or three of these fine birds on the Bopatalawa patanas, but though 

 I fired at them I failed to secure a specimen. They affected the 

 marshy ground, perching occasionally on the rhododendron trees 

 that grow by the side of the streams in these patanas, and when 

 flushed they flew off, still in the direction of where these trees 

 grew. In flight they strongly resemble a Sea-gull, excepting in 

 the act of " stooping," when they will continue to hover over one 

 spot for several minutes together, before swooping down upon 

 their prey. They are widely distributed over the country, parti- 

 cularly during the N.E. months, and in grass or patana lands. 



4. Glancidium castanonotum, the Chestnut-backed Owlet. I 

 found many examples of this little owl. They seemed to be most 

 numerous in belts of standing forest, where at any hour of the 

 day they might be either seen or heard. They not unfrequently 

 come out into the clearings, but only when forest is a moderate 

 distance off. 



5. Syrnium indrani, the Brown Wood-owl, or Devil-bird. I 

 heard this Owl on three or four occasions, but never saw or heard 

 of a specimen being secured. On each occasion that I heard it 

 the cry came from the direction of the heavy forest. 



6. PalcBornis calthropce, Layard's Paroquet. This was the 

 only paroquet I observed during my stay. I found it near the 



