11 
Birds in Southern Ceylon. 
town of Galle. An exceedingly interesting series thus fell 
into my possession, from the white head to the adult grey 
wings and black primaries. I have not met with any birds 
entirely brown. The next stage of plumage to the buff-white 
head is the beautiful buff-marked least wing-coverts, which 
are accompanied by the golden iris and yellow cere and feet 
of the adult. During the north-east monsoon-rains in De¬ 
cember these birds feed much on fish in the flooded flat lands 
of the south. I have shot them devouring large “ lulu 33 
fish more than a pound in weight. 
Among the Strigidse inhabiting Ceylon the common species 
in the south are Ketupa ceylonensis and Ephialtes lempigi, 
the latter being, of course, the most plentiful. I have kept 
this bird in confinement; and when angered it spreads out its 
wings, erects its “ ears/' and oscillates its body from side to 
side, uttering a low growl. Rufous varieties are very rare in 
Ceylon; but they do exist, a fine example having come into 
my possession last year. Ketupa ceylonensis breeds in hollow 
trees ; the eggs are white, of a rather rough texture. They 
measure, axis 2*28, diameter T72 inches, and are hatched 
in the south at the end of February. I am of opinion 
that, although in suitable localities they do frequent the bor¬ 
ders of inland tanks and rivers, and consequently feed much 
on fish, reptiles form their usual food. I have taken an entire 
snake, which had been swallowed intact, from the stomach of 
one of these birds. They are more numerous about the low 
hills near Galle than in our mountain-district. In all speci¬ 
mens that have come under my notice I have found the bill 
(contrary to Jerdon's description) to be dusky greenish, with 
a dark side-patch near the tip. Athene casianonota is here 
and there met with in the wooded regions of our province, 
but it is not plentiful. Syrnium indranee is by no means un¬ 
common, inhabiting the primeval forest (styled in Cingalese 
“ Mookalaney ”) at no great distance from Galle. It breeds 
in February and March ; and since I have been stationed here 
I have been fortunate enough to procure from natives two 
nestlings, which are now in my aviary. The older of the two, 
which I have had nearly a year, has never once hooted or made 
