No. 5.— 1849.] 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



199 



PART II. 



SKETCHES IN THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 CEYLON: ORNITHOLOGY. 

 By Edgar L. Layard, Esq., c.m.e.s. 

 {Read August 25, 1849.) 



Glass— AVE S. 



Order Scansores. 

 Family Psittacid2e. 

 Genus Pal^ornis. 

 1. — P. Alexandri ( Edw.y pi. 292; Nat. Lib. 

 Psittacidce, pi. 2). 

 Syn. — Psittacus Alexandri, L. ; P. Eupatria, L.. the 

 female ; Psittaca Ginginiana, Bris., the female ; P. Guin- 

 neensis, Scop. (nec. Gem.) ; P. Sonneratii, Gem. ; Pal. 

 Nepalensis, Hodg. (Journal As. Res., XIX., 177). Pannu- 

 girawd* Sin. ; Pafickavarnak-kili, Mai. (literally pancha 

 u five/' varna "coloured"); Pappugaika, Port, (the name 

 for all parrots) ; Jongichy, Dutch. 



This parrot is found in large flocks about Colombo and 

 in the jungles of the lower hills. It extends to Chilaw, where 

 it is mingled with the smaller P. torquatus, and is 

 also abundant at Galle, Matara, and Batticaloa, the last 

 place in particular. Its favourite food consists of the young 

 blossoms of the cocoanut, and, where they are not procur- 

 able, of various wild nuts. The natives, who catch them in 



* The Sinhalese and Tamil names should be pronounced as if written 

 with Italian vowels. 



