Notes froDi 0)1 Amateur in Ceylon 187 



Notes from an Amateur in Ceylon. 



Bv Mrs. W. G. Dickinson. 



1 wonder if a few notes on our avi^iry and wild <."eylon 

 bird neighbours would be of any interest ? 



The climate we live in is the damp, low country, with 

 heavy rainfall at intervals, and occasional spells of dry heat, the 

 tisual temperature in the bungalow being from about 78° to 82°. 

 This is evidently very trying to birds from dryer regions, 

 although Indian and other Eastern birds seem to do very well. 



1 collected one year about forty birds, principally Munias, 

 Java Sparrows. Ceylon Bulbuls and a few other Indian birds, 

 the most " distinguished " of which, to my mind, were two 

 beautiful birds called " Nepally Shamas " by the Indian bird 

 seller. They were evidently Shamas, but with a shorter tail, with 

 no wdiite on them, and a wide open crest, only raised when they 

 were excited or pleased, not very pointed. Their handsome 

 colouring of rich chestnut and skining black was very striking. 

 I also had a nondescript kind of bird, evidently some kind of 

 Babbler : a most amusing tame little chap, with faintly pencilled 

 feathers of a slaty general colour, and a handsome and tame 

 thrush, also of a grey-blue tone, with' exqtiisitely pencilled 

 feathers. He and one Shama came to sad ends during my 

 enforced absence, but the other Shama and Bansee, the Babbler, 

 were my great delight for over two years, when a careless cooly 

 gave them a chance to escape, and alas! I was not at home to 

 recapture them, which I think would have been easy, as they 

 were so tame. 



The Australian Grassfinches I was able to bring back 

 here did not do well, alas ! The Crimson Finches died on arrival; 

 one Bicheno's Finch pined for its mate, who escaped on the jour- 

 ney; my Gouldians, after beginning to nest, gradually suc- 

 cumbed to the damp, their end hastened. I fear, by the impossi- 

 bility of procuring millet sprays. The Long-tailed Grassfinches 

 did best, living for about two years, but without breeding. 



I fear the aviary is too small for the mixed crowd who 

 inhabit it, being only about 12ft. by 6, comprising a shelter and 

 high open flight, with a fountain-bath, and shrubs in it. My 



