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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II, PART I. 



generally found in pairs, and the moment one begins its 

 shrill call the other answers it. This call resembles some- 

 what that of B. Indicus, the next species, but is louder 

 and more shrill, and may be heard to a great distance. 

 This species has been hitherto considered very rare, and 

 rests principally on the authority of Levaillant, It is 

 peculiar to the Island, as many other varieties of birds and 

 animals are, which have remained unknown for years, but 

 will soon, I trust, grace the cabinets of our Museum, and 

 take their place among the described species of the Indian 

 Fauna. 



B, Indicus (Linn.).— Length, 6J in., 1 wing about 3 in., 

 tail 1| in., bill to forehead f in.; above, green with a 

 ruddyish tinge, the feathers slightly marginated with 

 yellow ; below, yellowish-white, each feather centred with 

 green ; forehead and gorget brilliant crimson, immediately 

 behind which is a black band fading off into dark lead colour ; 

 below the gorget is a narrow band of golden yellow ; chin 

 and throat sulphur colour ; a similar coloured spot surrounds 

 the eye ; base of bill black, as is also the bill itself ; feet 

 reddish, with black claws. 



They are fond of sitting on a dead twig, or tree-top, utter- 

 ing their dull, monotonous call, generally beginning with a 

 loud i( tur-r~r-r-r " ascending the gamut and ending with 

 "ko-turr, ko-turrP Hence the native name of the whole 

 genus, Kotioruwo. The species is very common in Jaffna 

 and Colombo, but not so much so in the hills, where B. 

 rubricapillus replaces it. They are very partial to the 

 young fruit of the cotton and tamarind, which abound in 

 the Jaffna district. 



B. rubricapillus (Gemlin).— Much resembles the pre- 

 ceding in size and colour, but the forehead with a smaller 

 and less brilliant red patch ; the gorget is almost obsolete (in 

 some specimens quite so), and the throat, chin, and eye-spot 



