16 Lieut. W. V. Legge on the Distribution of 
nerati is rare in swampy wooded lands; C. micropterus is also 
rare in forests; and Centropus chlororhynchus, another denizen 
of the woods, has several times come under my notice both in 
the lowlands near Kottowe and in the hills of the Morowa 
and Kookool korles. The note of this shy bird is most ex¬ 
traordinary, resembling the dropping of a stone into a deep 
well, and is generally the only indication one has of its pre¬ 
sence; for it is rarely or never seen. Centropus rufipennis 
and Eudynamys orientalis are, of course, very common. The 
former extends sparingly into the mountains. When uttering 
its singular deep-sounding note this bird turns the head on 
one side and darts it downwards at each syllable, the mandi¬ 
bles being opened wide, in order, as it would seem, to send 
forth the loud ooop-ooop-ooop with greater ease. Zanclostomus 
viridirostris is local, and skulks about the thick scrub growing 
on some parts of the sea-shore. It is very shy, and seldom 
allows itself to be seen for more than a minute at a time. 
The handsome Phcenicophceus pyrrhocephalus inhabits thick 
forest both in the low and hill districts. It betakes itself 
to the ground at times, though it is thoroughly arboreal in 
habits; when disturbed it proceeds in short flights from 
tree to tree with a creaking note like that of the European 
Magpie, elevating its tail as it alights on the branches. The 
difference in the eye of the male and the female is very 
remarkable; but I think there is no doubt about the matter 
(see my notes on the subject in last number of f Stray Fea¬ 
thers '). Polyphasia passerina is rare in wooded districts of 
the low country, and concludes the list of Cuculinse observed 
by myself in this district. 
One little Creeper, Dendrophila frontalis , is abundant in the 
Morowa-Korle hills, and is at times met with in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the sea-coast. Tephrodornis affinis is resident 
all the year round in this part of the island; and Hemipus 
picatus is common in wooded districts near Galle, as well as 
in the lower hills. Dicrurus leucopygialis is abundant near 
the sea-coast, and extends from that up to 500 or 600 feet. 
It breeds in the well-known “jack ” tree, fixing its nest, which 
is a light cup-shaped structure of fine twigs and grass, in the 
