NOTE. The following is a list of the birds which are, as far as is at present known, peculiar to the island; it will probably be determined at some future day that some included in it have a wider geographical range. Hæmatornis spilogaster. The "Ceylon eagle;" was discovered by Mr. Layard in the Wanny, and by Dr. Kelaart at Trincomalie. Athene castonotus. The chestnut-winged hawk owl. This pretty little owl was added to the list of Ceylon birds by Dr. Templeton. Mr. Blyth is at present of opinion that this bird is identical with Ath. Castanopterus, Horsf. of Java as figured by Temminck: P. Col. Batrachostomus montliger. The oil bird; was discovered amongst the precipitous rocks of the Adam's Peak range by Mr. Layard. Another specimen was sent about the same time to Sir James Emerson Tennent from Avisavelle. Mr. Mitford has met with it at Ratnapoora. Caprimulgus Kelaarti. Kelaart's nightjar; swarms on the marshy plains of Neuera-ellia at dusk. Hirundo hyperythra. The red-bellied swallow; was discovered in 1849, by Mr. Layard at Ambepusse. They build a globular nest, with a round hole at top A pair built in the ring for a hanging lamp in Dr. Gardner's study at Peradenia, and hatched their young, undisturbed by the daily trimming and lighting of the lamp. Cisticola omalura. Layard's mountain grass warbler; is found in abundance on Horton Plain and Neuera-ellia, among the long Patena grass. Drymoica valida. Layard's wren-warbler; frequents tufts of grass and low bushes, feeding on insects. Pratincola atrata. The Neuera-ellia robin; a melodious songster; added to our catalogue by Dr. Kelaart. Brachypteryx Palliseri. Ant thrush. A rare bird, added by Dr. Kelaart from Dimboola and Neuera-ellia. Pellorneum fuscocapilium. Mr. Layard found two specimens of this rare thrush creeping about shrubs and bushes, feeding on insects. Alcippe nigrifrons. This thrush frequents low impenetrable thickets, and seems to be widely distributed. Oreocincla spiloptera. The spotted thrush is only found in the mountain zone about lofty trees. Merula Kinnisii. The Neuera-ellia blackbird; was added by Dr. Kelaart. Garrulax cinereifrons. The ashy-headed babbler; was found by Mr. Layard near Ratnapoora. Pomatorhinus melanurus. Mr. Layard states that the mountain babbler frequents low, scraggy, impenetrable brush, along the margins of deserted cheena land. This may turn out to be little more than a local vet striking variety of P. Horsfieldii of the Indian Peninsula. Malacocercus rufescens. The red dung thrush added by Dr. Templeton to the Singhalese Fauna, is found in thick jungle in the southern and midland districts. Pycnonotus penicillatus. The yelloweared bulbul; was found by Dr. Kelaart at Neuera-ellia. Butalis Muttui. This very handsome flycatcher was procured at Point Pedro, by Mr. Layard. Dicrurus edoliformis. Dr. Templeton found this kingcrow at the Bibloo Oya. Mr. Layard has since got it at Ambogammoa. Dicrurus leucopygialis. The Ceylon kingcrow was sent to Mr. Blyth from the vicinity of Colombo, by Dr. Templeton. A species very closely allied to D. cœrulescens of the Indian continent. Tephrodornis affinis. The Ceylon butcher-bird. A migatory species found in the wooded grass lands in October. Cissa puella. Layard's mountain jay. A most lovely bird, found along mountain streams at Neuera-ellia and elsewhere. Eulabes ptilogenys. Templeton's mynah. The largest and most beautiful of the species. It is found in flocks perching on the highest trees, feeding on berries. Munia Kelaarti. This Grosbeak previously assumed to be M. pectoralis of Jerdon; is most probably peculiar to Ceylon. Loriculus asiaticus. The small parroquet, abundant in various districts. Palæornis Calthropæ. Layard's purpleheaded parroquet, found at Kandy, is a very handsome bird, flying in flocks, and resting on the summits of the very highest trees. Dr. Kelaart states that it is the only parroquet of the Neueraellia range. Megalaima flavifrons. The yellow-headed barbet, is not uncommon. Megalaima rubricapilla, is found in most parts of the island. Picus gymnophthalmus. Layard's woodpecker. The smallest of the species, was discovered near Colombo, amongst jak-trees. Brachypternus Ceylonus. The Ceylon woodpecker, is found in abundance near Neuera-ellia. Brachypternus rubescens. The red woodpecker. iest trees. Mr. Blyth is of opinion that it is no more than a local race, barely separable from C. Elphinstonii of the Nilgiris and Malabar coast. Carpophaga pusilla. The little-hill dove, a migratory species found by Mr. Layard in the mountain zone, only appearing with the ripened fruit of the teak, banyan, &c., on which they feed. Centropus chlororhynchus. The yellow-Gallus Lafayetti. The Ceylon jungle billed cuckoo, was detected by Mr. Layard in dense jungle near Colombo and Avisavelle. Phoenicophaus pyrrhocephalus. The mal. koha, is confined to the southern highlands. Treron Pompadoura. The Pompadour pigeon. "The Prince of Canino has shown that this is a totally distinct bird from Tr. flavogularis, with which it was confounded: it is much smaller, with the quantity of maroon colour on the mantle greatly reduced."-Paper by Mr. BLYTH, Mag. Nat. Hist. p. 514: 1857. Carpophaga Torringtoniæ. Lady Torrington's pigeon; a very handsome pigeon discovered in the highlands by Dr. Kelaart. It flies high in long sweeps, and makes its nest on the loft fowl. The female of this handsome bird was figured by Mr. GRAY (Ill. Ind. Zool.) under the name of G. Stanleyi. The cock bird had long been lost to naturalists, until a specimen was forwarded by Dr. Templeton to Mr. Blyth, who at once recognised it as the longlooked-for male of Mr. Gray's recently described female. It is abundant in all the uncultivated portions of Ceylon; coming out into the open spaces to feed in the mornings and evenings. Blyth states that there can be no doubt that Hardwicke's published figure refers to the hen of this species, long after. wards termed G. Lafayetti. Mr. Galloperdix bicalcaratus. Not uncommon in suitable situations. CHAP. IX. REPTILES. LIZARDS. Iguana. One of the earliest, if not the first remarkable animal to startle a stranger on arriving in Ceylon, whilst wending his way from Point-deGalle to Colombo, is a huge lizard of from four to five feet in length, the Talla-goya of the Singhalese, and Iguana1 of the Europeans. It may be seen at noonday searching for ants and insects in the middle of the highway and along the fences; when disturbed, but by no means alarmed, by the approach of man, it moves off to a safe distance; and, the intrusion being at an end, it returns again to the occupation in which it had been interrupted. Repulsive as it is in appearance, it is perfectly harmless, and is hunted down by dogs in the maritime provinces, and its delicate flesh, which is believed to be a specific in dysentery, is converted into curry, and its skin into shoes. When seized, it has the power of inflicting a smart blow with its tail. The Talla-goyā lives in almost any convenient hollow, such as a hole in the ground, or a deserted nest of the termites; and some small ones, which frequented my garden at Colombo, made their retreat in the heart of a decayed tree. 1 Monitor dracæna, Linn. Among the barbarous nostrums of the uneducated natives, both Singhalese and Tamil, is the tongue of the iguana, which they regard as a specific for consumption, if plucked from the living animal and swallowed whole. A still larger species, the Kabaragoyā', is partial to marshy ground, and when disturbed upon land, will take refuge in the nearest water. From the somewhat eruptive appearance of the yellow blotches on its scales, a closely allied species, similarly spotted, formerly obtained amongst naturalists the name of Monitor exanthematicus, and it is curious that the native appellation of this one, kabara 2, is suggestive of the same idea. The Singhalese, on a strictly homœopathic principle, believe that its fat, externally applied, is a cure for cutaneous disorders, but that taken inwardly it is poisonous. The skilfulness of the Singhalese in their preparation of poisons, and their addiction to using them, are unfortunately notorious traits in the character of the rural population. Amongst these preparations, the one which above all others excites the utmost dread, from the number of murders attributed to its agency, is the potent kabara-tela term which Europeans sometimes corrupt into cobra-tel, implying that the venom is obtained from the hooded-snake; whereas it professes to be extracted from the "kabara-goya." Such is the bad renown of this formidable poison, that an individual suspected of having it in his possession, is cautiously shunned by his neighbours. Those especially who are on doubtful terms with him, suspect their own servants lest they should be suborned to mix kabara-tel in the curry. So subtle is the virus sup |