18 
Lieut. W. V. Legge on the Distribution of 
great numbers, in the brown stage , in October, and affects by 
choice the banks of rivers. It is very plentiful along the 
Gindurah. Myiagra azurea is common in all jungles up to 
3000 feet; but I have have not met with a Cyornis in all my 
wanderings, although C. jerdoni * is found throughout the 
western province. I have only once met with Leucocerca 
albofrontata, procuring it at Baddegamme near Galle. Myio- 
lestes cinereocapilla is found in the Morowa-Korle and Lion- 
King forests down to 2000 feet, where also Eumyias sordida 
is tolerably numerous. The young of this species are plu- 
maged like those of Cyornis jerdoni. An individual I pro¬ 
cured last August in the Lion-King hills has the upper sur¬ 
face and wing-coverts brown, with buff tips to the feathers; 
the chin is buff, and the lower surface, as in the adult, min¬ 
gled with yellowish grey feathers. 
Pitta brachyura, one of our most widely distributed cold- 
weather visitants, is exceedingly abundant, and heard in the 
mornings and evenings wherever there is a bit of scrub or 
jungle : they affect low " cAeew# jungle 33 in preference to damp 
woods; and on wet days their whistle may be heard at any 
hour. Oreocincla spiloptera is distributed through the Mo¬ 
rowa-Korle jungle; and I have no doubt that Turdulus wardii 
is also an inhabitant of the same part. Alcippe nigrifrons , 
Dumetia albogularis , and Pomatorhinus melanurus , with Lay - 
ardia rufescens , are all common birds in the lower hilly coun¬ 
try, and, with the exception of the little “ Pig-bird,” are nu¬ 
merous in the hills. This curious little skulking babbler is 
chiefly found about bushes at the edge of “ cheena ” jungle, 
and darts along in a “ follow-my-leader ” style from one bit 
of cover to the other with great perseverance. I have found 
it in the central province in the upper parts of Doombera, at 
an elevation of 2500 feet. Alcippe nigrifrons is wonderfully 
abundant, particularly in bamboo jungles, its favourite abode; 
it is frequently found in company with Pomatorhinus mela¬ 
nurus, which affects the same localities. The curious mas- 
* In my note on this bird in J. A. S. (Ceylon branch),.1870-71, the 
female is stated to be brighter than the male. This is a printer’s error, 
it should read lighter. 
