346 Mr. F. Lewis on the Land-birds of 



it also in the dry country, where it must be regarded as a 

 straggler. It breeds in high forests and, like all the fore- 

 going, in big trees. Eggs pure white and devoid of gloss. 



26. LoRicuLus iNDicus (Legge, B. of C. p. 180, pi. vi. 



%• 2). 



Peculiar to Ceylon. I am inclined to consider that this 



species should be regarded as more abundant in the inter- 

 mediate districts between the w^et and dry zones, as it is 

 certainly to be found in greater numbers in that limit than 

 in the extremes. It often ascends up to the highest hills, 

 but is then only an occasional visitor. It breeds in high 

 trees, but I have never succeeded in procuring the eggs. 



In Colombo it may be frequently found for sale, and is 

 known as the '' Love-bird/' 



PICARIiE. 



27. Iyngipicus gymnophthalmos Blyth (Legge, B. of C. 

 p. 186). 



This is our smallest Woodpecker, and much more often 

 heard than seen. It is most frequently found round the 

 base of the hill-country, on the limits of the dry zone, but 

 rarely in the very wet country. It frequents high dead trees 

 and the solitary clumps of them that are often to be found 

 in grass-lands, but it is nowhere particularly abundant. 



Travancore and Ceylon. 



28. Chrysocolaptes stricklandi (Legge, B. of C. p. 188, 

 pi. vii.) . 



Indigenous to Ceylon. So far as this jorovince goes it 

 must be regarded as a purely forest species, and more abun- 

 dant in the wet zone up to high altitudes than elsewhere. 

 It is frequently met with at over 6000 feet elevation and 

 down at 100, but I have not met with it except as above 

 stated. 



I have not seen the eggs, but I have found the nests. The 

 birds appear to be shy in their breeding-habits, as on each 

 occasion that I examined the nests they were promptly 

 abandoned. 



