Ko. 29. — 1884.] BOGAWANTALAWA ORNITHOLOGY. 



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descending scale. Dense hollows, thickly-wooded streams, and 

 avines are favourite haunts for this beautiful bird. 



In Maskeliya, in 1875, I more than once met with small flocks 

 of Trogons in the newly felled clearings, but I have never since 

 seen them under like circumstances. 



12. Alcedo Bengalensis, the Little Indian Blue Kingfisher. 

 Notwithstanding all my efforts I never succeeded in seeing or 

 hearing this Kingfisher. Mr. Roberts said he thought he heard 

 at once, while two other gentlemen declared it to be common. 

 There seems to be no reason why , so far as I can see, these King- 

 fishers should not be found in this district, as I procured it on 

 Mahanillu river, in the eastern extremity of the Maskeliya 

 district, and found it building on a branch of that stream ; again, 

 on the Dambulanda-oya, in Lindula, and the Agra-oya, in the 

 Agras, Dimbula. 



I give it here on the grounds of favourable probabilities, though 

 as mentioned above, I did not procure a specimen, 



13. Halcyon Smyrnensis, the White-breasted Kingfisher. I 

 have repeatedly seen a pair of these birds perching on some high 

 dead trees overlooking a marshy piece of ground on Bogawarnie 

 estate. I never saw them elsewhere, as in Dimbula, where they 

 frequent the river-banks. This Kingfisher is by no means common 

 in high districts, and is, I am inclined to think, a visitor, though, 

 possibly, individual pairs may be found remaining all the year 

 round at unusual altitudes. 



14. Merops Pkilippinus, the Blue-tailed Bee-eater. This 

 bird is a migrant to the upper hills during the north-east monsoon, 

 and may be met with at the highest elevations in the Island, in 

 the course of its migration through the country. The first I 

 heard in Bogawantalawa was on the 21st September. They are 

 particularly partial to patana land up-country, perching not 

 unfrequently on the " mana " grass stalks in lieu of dead trees, 

 which form a sort of outlook, from which they dart off after dragon- 

 flies, or such insects as fall within their reach or observation. 



15. Chcetura gigantea, the Spine-tailed Swift. Possessed of 

 such power of wing and flight, it is scarcely to be wondered at 

 that this bird should be found at 6 a.m. in Bogawantalawa, and 

 ere sun-down have winged its way over to the Nilgiris. 



I have seen the bird in Rakwana and Grampola, and on three 

 or four occasions two birds used to perch among the rafters of my 

 bungalow of an evening at Balangoda. 



