xlii. Appendix : — Proceedings of 



I regret that my health has not permitted me to complete the first part 

 of our conjoint paper on the Ornithology of Ceylon. But if the Society 

 will receive a small portion of it as an instalment of what is to come, I 

 promise to have the rest done in time to appear in the next Number of 

 the Journal. My work is nearly ready for delivery. Since it was com- 

 pleted, I have come up here for the benefit of my health. Although the 

 Estate is not very prolific of Coffee, its soil has yielded not less than four 

 species of Uropeltidce, or rough tails (Dapat Nay as), one the very remark- 

 able species with keeled scales to the shield of the tail, Siluboura Zeylon- 

 icus, Cuv. R. A. ii. 76. The three others are not described in Grey's Ca- 

 talogue, nor do they belong to any of the three divisions of Uropeltidce 

 given by Mr. Gray. I have proposed new genera for them. One of the 

 three is already described in my work, from specimens collected at Trin- 

 cornalie. The two others are new to me ; one, a very elegant species, I 

 propose calling after an old friend, Uropeltis Trevelyani, it is about 14 

 inches long, and 1 inch in circumference. Black above, margin of scales 

 pale. White beneath, with longitudinal series of black spots, formed of 

 central spots on each scale. A line of triangular white spots, with their 

 apices pointed upwards along each side ; vent and lower part of tail white, 

 which is carried on to the upper part. Tail short, obliquely truncated, 

 and nearly covered with a conical granular shield. Vent shields 1 — 2. 

 The young is of a bluish or bluish black. Found about three feet under 

 ground in ant-holes. 



The other species, which I propose naming after our distinguished friend 

 Mr. Blyth, is 16 inches long; circumference 1 3-10th inch. Head 4- loth 

 inch. Dark yellowish brown above, with darker brown spots on the an- 

 terior third of scales. Paler beneath. Sides of nape and neck waved with 

 angular spots of yellowish hue, yellow spots on each side of vent. Ros- 

 trum yellow. Tail thick, slightly truncated, conical, upper part of ter- 

 mination covered with a small subtriangular granular shield, lower sur- 

 face smooth, covered with broad scales. Vent shields 1 — 2. This species 

 too is found in the same locality, but on softer ground, near rivulets. 



Singular that I have not been able to get any specimens of Typhlops, 

 the Argyrophis Bramicus must be found in the paddy fields at Colombo. 

 This is the only species of this genus hitherto seen in the Island, India 

 produces many, and as many no doubt exist in Ceylon, if people will only 

 bring all they meet with in the marshes. I am not collecting any birds, 

 and I have not seen any which I have not previously got. The most 

 numerous species here at present are two kinds of finches, Amadina 

 undulata and A. Malaharica^ Zosterops palpebrosus, Pycnonotus He- 

 morrhinus, and P. nigricapilla ; Palceomis cyanocephalus, and your beau- 



