302 Mr. Blyth on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



21. Alcippe nigrifronSj Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii. p. 815. 

 Closely akin to A. atriceps of Southern India, from which it 



differs in not having the whole crown black, but only the fore- 

 head, continued as a line backward over each eye and the ear- 

 coverts. The tail also is darkly and distinctly rayed with 

 dusky-black. General hue fulvous-brown above, and on the 

 flanks and lower tail-coverts ; rest of the under parts pure 

 white, the axillaries tinged with rufescent. Irides pale straw- 

 coloured. Length of wing 2*25 in. The young are similar in 

 plumage to the adult. Widely distributed in Ceylon. "It 

 frequents low impenetrable thickets, and its curious note often 

 betrays its propinquity, when itself is closely hid " (Layard, torn, 

 cit. p. 269). The nest is "built in a low thorn bush, and com- 

 posed of grasses woven together in a dome, with the entrance 

 near the top ; eggs white, slightly freckled with pink spots " 

 {Idem, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1853, xi. p. 397). 



22. Drym(ECA valida, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx. p. 180; D. ro- 

 bust a, Bl., ibid, xviii. p. 812. 



Differs from D. sylvatica of the Nilgiris in its darker shade 

 of colour above, and larger and stronger bill and legs, which 

 last appear to have been of a deep reddish-brown colour ; the 

 flanks and sides of the breast are rather dusky. Irides light 

 red-brown. " It frequents tufts of grass and low bushes in dry 

 situations. It is rather a rare bird, and feeds on small insects 

 of all kinds, which it seeks amid the bushes. It generally 

 hunts in small parties, and traverses the branches up and down 

 in a similar manner to Orthotomus longicauda" (Layard, Ann. 

 & Mag. N. H. 1853, xii. p. 263). 



23. CisTicoLA HOMALURA, Blyth, J. A. S. B. XX. p. 176. 

 Differs from C. schoenicola in having a stouter bill, the whole 



upper parts much darker, and the tail almost even, except that 

 its outermost feathers are "25 in. shorter than the next. The 

 prevailing hue of the upper parts is dusky-black, with much 

 narrower rufescent lateral margins than in C. schoenicola, the 

 rump, however, being unmixed rufescent as in that species, 

 and the neck much tinged with the same. One specimen 



