542 Mr. P. Lewis on the Land-birds of 



more abuudaut iu the low country than at the highest 

 altitudes. It is perhaps the chief means of distributing and 

 spreading the growth of our local Loranthus, as it feeds on 

 the berries, and deposits the sticky seeds on any branches 

 it may for the moment perch upon. 



I have obtained the nests in one of the wettest parts of 

 the province during August, with two eggs. The nest itself 

 is cup-shaped, and very beautifully built in the angle formed 

 by two twigs. The eggs are pure white and faintly dotted 

 over with minute brown dots. 



134. Pachyglossa vincens (Legge, B. of C. p. 577, pi. xxvi. 

 figs. 1,2). 



This endemic species appears to be more or less confined 

 to the wet forests and places where the rainfall is usually high, 

 thus I have obtained it in Kittulgalla (rainfall 230 inches), 

 Balangoda, the Kukulu Korah, and on the confines of the 

 Galle district, but nowhere have I found it in abundance. 



I know nothing of its nidification. 



135. ZOSTEROPS PALPEBROSA (Lcggc, B. of C. p. 582). 

 Very common up to 2500 feet, after which it is scarcely 



seen. It appears to follow the damp parts of the province 

 closely, as directly the intermediate rainfall district is passed 

 and the dry zone is reached it becomes very scarce. 



It nests in the S.W. monsoon months. The eggs are two, 

 and sometimes three, in number, pale greenish blue, delicate 

 in structure, and easily broken. 



136. ZoSTEROPS CEYLONENSIS (Leggc, B. of C. p. 585, 

 pi. xxvi. fig. 3). 



This species appears to begin exactly where the last- 

 mentioned leaves off, iu the hill-country. There it is found 

 from 2500 feet to the top of the highest hills, and apparently 

 with equal abundance. In the cold wet forests at the base 

 of the cone of Adam's Peak this little bird's note is often 

 the only sound to be heard, as the bleakness of the hills at 

 this altitude drives back most bird- life to the warmer valleys 

 under 5000 feet. 



It breeds in the early part of the year, generally about 



