21 
Birds in Southern Ceylon . 
quently shot with hazel-brown eyes (the normal colour being 
sombre red); and though I have not been able to detect any 
signs of immaturity in their plumage, they must necessarily 
be the young of the year. 
Phyllornis malabaricus is by no means uncommon; it is 
an inhabitant of the forests. I have obtained it from near 
Galle up to 3000 feet in the Singha-Rajah hills. This district 
was the first in which I found this Bulbul, though I have seen 
a specimen from the central province. It has not the clear 
whistling notes of the universally distributed P. jerdoni ; and 
as its yellow forehead cannot be distinguished well in the dis¬ 
tance, I believe it has been hitherto passed over in Ceylon by 
those who have not paid attention to the voices of the different 
species of this family. Iora zeylonica is very numerous 
throughout the low country of this province. I have speci¬ 
mens in winter plumage with the iris grey , others in change 
of dress with that, again, darker, and two in full breeding- 
plumage (with the black back) which had the eye hazel-brown. 
This latter circumstance must be looked upon as an abnormal 
state of things, I imagine, unless the eye changes in this 
species as it puts on its nuptial clothing. Concerning the 
Warblers there is but little to note. Thamnobia fulicata is 
much more numerous here than in the western province, ap¬ 
pearing as if it increased gradually towards the south-east 
coast, where it is so extremely abundant. Pvinia socialis is 
found in sugar-cane fields; and as I have found it on the moun¬ 
tain patnas of the central province, it doubtless extends into 
the hills of this part of the island as well. Kittacincla ma- 
crura is rare in bamboo-jungles. Cisticola homalura, Blyth, 
said to have been found in this district, has not yet come under 
my notice, although the common species is abundant in grassy 
deserted paddy-fields, and inhabits likewise the patnas of 
the Morowa-Korle and Singha-Rajah forests. Drymoipus 
validus is found in open bushy places, especially in clearings 
made by the natives in the inland valleys for the purpose of 
cultivation; I have it also, identified by Lord Walden, from 
near Colombo. My specimens range up to 6-fj' total length. 
I have also Drymoipus jerdoni up to 5’9 ,; . The bill of D. 
