16 * 
PHOENICOPHAES ,PYRRHOCEPHALUS 
(THE RED PACED MALKOKA) 
ADULT MALE 
Length 17.8 to 18.2 inches; wing 6 to 6.2; tail 10*5 to 11.1; (lateral 
feathers only 5); tarsus 1.3 to 1.4; anterior toe 1.1; olaw (straight) .35; 
bill to'gape 1.5 to 1.6; expanse 17.5. 
FEMALE 
Length 18 to 18.7 inches; wing 6.2 to 6.4; tail 11 to 11.3; bill to gape 
1.5 to 1.65. 
DISTRIBUTION 
The Malkoha is found in most of the forests and heavily clad jungle dis¬ 
tricts of the low country, but notwithstanding has always been considered 
one of air rarest species, an idea which naturally arose from the extreme 
difficulty of penetrating its haunts. It occurs sparingly throughout the 
South-western hill region, or the tract of country extending from the Kalu- 
ganga, through the Pasdun and Hinedun Korales to the Eastern confines of the 
Morowak Korale. it is likewise to be found in most of the damp forests of 
the Western Province, particularly in the hills stretching from the neigh- 
bourhodd of Avisawella to Korunegala, and occurs even at Mahara and Kotta in 
the vicinity of Colombo. It occurs throughout the jungles of the great 
Northern forest tract, extending from the Western Province through the seven 
Korales to the Vannl, the most Northerly point in which I have seen it be¬ 
ing the forest on the road from Trinoomalie to Anuradhapura. 
In the Eastern Province, however, it is far more numerous than in the 
aforesaid district, for I have met with it in flocks of ten or a dozen in 
the jungles at the base of Triar’s Hood, and also near the Bible Rock be- 
neath the Madulsima range. Mr Bllgh has procured it at a considerable al¬ 
titude in the Lemastota hills, into which it doubtless ascends from the Well 
away Korale forests in the dry season. On the Western side of the hill ‘ 
zone Mr Holdsworth has observed it in the Kandy district, but I have no evi¬ 
dence of its being found at a greater elevation than that. 
This species Is one of the earliest known Ceylon birds. Its gay plumage 
no doubt made it an object of attraction to early travellers, and Forster 
described It In his "Indlsche Zoologle" so far baok as 1781, giving a plate 
done in the crude style of that period. He however does not make any men¬ 
tion of the discoverer of this interesting Ceylon form, which leads to the 
