Ceylon Ornithology, 143 



CEYLON OKNITHOLOGY, 

 By E. F. Kelaart, Esq., M.D., Staff Surgeon, 



In order to place before the Ceylon student of Natural 

 History a systematic account of the Genera of Birds, I have 

 extracted for their use descriptions of the Genera of Ceylon 

 Birds from the celebrated work of Gray and Mitchell, 

 which from its costly character is beyond the reach of many. 



My descriptions of Ceylon Birds formed originally part of 

 a work contemplated by Mr. Layard and myself : the former 

 undertaking to write an account of the habits of the birds. 

 But owing to Mr. Layard's unexpected departure from Cey- 

 lon in search of health, we are not able to work together. 

 Therefore, I can only promise to bring before the public, 

 descriptions of birds which I have either seen or examined. 

 But with a view of making the paper more complete, I shall 

 add from authentic sources descriptions of other birds, of 

 which I have not at present any specimens to describe 

 from. 



It will also be my endeavour to describe the habits of some 

 of the birds which have come within the limited field of my 

 own observation, trusting that at no distant time some Field 

 Naturalist will finish the work now begun. 



Gray's Genera of Birds adapted to Ceylon Ornithology. 



Order. I. Accipetres. 



This order embraces the Birds of Prey ; they have the bill 

 of various length and form, more or less compressed, with the 

 culmen suddenly hooked at the tip, and acute: the base more 

 or less covered with a cere, in which are pierced the variously 

 formed nostrils; the wings lengthened and pointed; the feet 



