Vlll 
INTRODUCTION. 
Labours of former Writers. — In 1743 George Edwards, Library Keeper to the Royal College 
of Physicians, published a work entitled ‘A Natural History of Uncommon Birds,’ and in it figured 
several species inhabiting India and Ceylon, among which were “ The Black Indian Cuckow ’ 
(. Eudynamys honorata), “The small Red-and-green Parrakeet” ( Loriculus indicus ), “The Black- 
and-white Kingfisher” ( Ceryle rudis ), “The Indian Bee-eater” ( Merops viridis), “The Black- 
headed Indian Icterus” (Oriolus melanocephalus), “The Crested Red or Russet Butcher-bird” 
(. Lanius cristatus), “The Pyed Bird of Paradise” (Terpsiphone paradisi ), “The Purple Indian 
Creeper” ( Cinnyris asiaticus ), “The Cowry Grosbeak ” (Munia punctulata ), “The Short-tailed 
Pye” (Pitta coronata), “The Minor” (Eulabes religiosa ), and “The Emerald Dove” ( Chalcophaps 
indica). Of these it will be observed that but one species, the Lorikeet, is peculiar to the island. 
During the latter half of the eighteenth century Gideon Loten was nominated Governor of 
Ceylon by the Dutch, and, happening to be a great lover of birds, collected and employed people 
to procure specimens of species which attracted his notice ; and from his labours we first learn 
something of the peculiar birds of the island. He had drawings prepared of many species, 
which he lent to an English naturalist named Peter Brown, who published in London, in 1776, a 
quarto work styled ‘Illustrations of Zoology.’ His descriptions of the birds he figured were 
given in French and English, and related to the following species named by him thus : — “ The 
Brown Hawk” (Astur badius ), “Great Ceylonese Eared Owl” ( Ketupa ceylonensis), “Red-crowned 
Barbet” (. Xantholcema rubricapilla), “Yellow-cheeked Barbet” (Megalcema flavifrons), “Ceylon 
Black-cap” (. lor a typhia ), “Spotted Curucui” ( Cuculus maculatus), “Red-vented Warbler” 
(. Pycnonotus hcemorrhous ), “Yellow-breasted Flycatcher” ( Bubigula melanictera), “The Green 
Wagtail” ( Budytes viridis), “The Rail” ( Eallina euryzonoides ), “The Pompadour Pigeon” 
( Osmotreron pompadora). The artist who delineated these species was Mr. Khuleelooddeen. 
Some of the drawings are fairly accurate ; but others are grotesque and unnatural, showing the 
poor state of perfection to which the illustration of books had up to that time been brought. 
We pass on now to a man of a different stamp, Johann Reinhold Forster, who gave Latin 
names to several of the peculiar Ceylonese forms which now stand, having been published after 
the Linnean period (1776). This author was likewise indebted to Governor Loten, of whom he 
speaks in his Introduction that he found a great field for his tastes in the science of natural 
history, and to assist him in his researches taught several slaves drawing. Forster’s work, entitled 
“ Indische Zoologie,” was published at Halle, in Germany, in 1781, and is written in German and 
Latin, purporting to be a “ systematic description of rare and unknown Indian animals.” The 
following species are figured and described : — Circus melanoleucus, Strix bakkamuna, Trogon 
fasciatus, Cuculus pyrrhocephalus , Ballus phoenicurus, Tantalus leucocephalus, Anser melanonotus, 
Anhinga (. Plotus ) melanogaster, Anas poecilorhyncha, and Perdix bicalcarata. Through Lo ten’s 
instrumentality, therefore, 10 species were described by Forster, in addition to those which Brown 
figured, and which were afterwards named by Linnaeus, Gmelin, and others. Prior to the advent 
of Templeton and Layard he did more for Ceylon ornithology than any other naturalist. One ox- 
two species were made known by Latham in his ‘ Synopsis,’ such as the “ Ceylonese Crested 
