186 Mr. H. Parker's Notes from Ceylon. 



were made inside one or two leaves, near tlie ground, and the 

 eggs were unspotted. 



Drymceca valida (Blyth). Breeds throughout the year in 

 South-east Ceylon. Two to four eggs, but usually three. 



Drymceca jerdont (Blyth). Breeds throughout the year 

 in South-east Ceylon. Two to four eggs, but usually three. 



AcROCEPHALUs sTENTORius (Hemp. & Ehr.), July (Tissa). 

 Permanent at Tissa-maharama. 



Dendrophila frontalis (Horsf.). April (Ramb-hara) 



PiPRisoMA AGILE (Tickell). Occurs at Ramb-hara. 



HiRUNDO RUSTiCA (Linn.). Arrives at Tissa from August 

 30th to Sept. 12th, and leaves at the end of April. These 

 Swallows sleep in immense numbers in the bulrushes there, 

 arriving in flocks before dusk. Before returning, they 

 amuse themselves by rapid evolutions, high and low in the 

 air, sometimes flying in a w ide continuous band or ring over 

 their sleeping-quarters. As it grows dusk they suddenly 

 drop into the rushes. Probably they come from great 

 distances ; very few are visible in the neighbourhood during 

 the day. 



LiMONiDROMus iNDicus (Gm.). Recorded at Tissa on 

 Sept. 20th, but it may arrive a little earlier. 



Ploceus manyar (Horsf.), Frequents reeds from Tissa to 

 Udukiriwila. At the former place this Weaver-bird is now 

 much more numerovis than P . philijjpinus ; but the increase 

 nmst have occurred during the last five or six years, after the 

 repair of the irrigation works, since Col. Legge did not observe 

 the bird there. Probably there are two chief breeding-seasons 

 (as in the case of P. philipplnus) , at the times when the paddy- 

 crops ripen, one in March, April, and May, and the other in 

 July, August, and September ; but eggs can be taken through- 

 out most of the year. The eggs are alw^ays three in number. 

 The tube of the nest appears to be added only after they are 

 laid. Every Weaver-bird's arrival in the colony is received 

 with great enthusiasm, exhibited by an active fluttering of 

 Avings and much miscellaneous noise. 



