Sabaragamawa Province, Ceylon. 547 



province, except in the very dry aad very wet districts. It 

 breeds at 3000 feet, often selecting orange-trees for the spot 

 in which its nest is to be built. I have taken fonr eggs at 

 a time, and in the Central Province I have found it laying 

 six eggs. 



152. MUNIA MALABARICA (Lcggc, B. of C. p. 662). 

 Occasionally found in the province, but more towards the 



confines of the dry zone to the north-east and towards the 

 foot of the Kandvan hills. I have found no earsrs, 



153. Artamus fuscus (Legge, B. of C. p. 666). 



One of the commonest birds, but chiefly confined to 

 altitudes of 2000 feet and downward. It prefers open 

 country, and particularly rice-fields, where its manner of 

 taking its prey on the wing is probably the cause of its 

 being called by the same name as the Swift and Swallow by 

 the natives. It is a resident species. 



154. AcRIUOTHERES MELANOSTERNUS (Lcgge, B. of C. 



p. 670). 



Widely distributed up to 4000 feet elevation, and a favourite 

 cage-bird with both natives and Europeans. 



Breeds early in the year, following to a great extent 

 the manner of the Woodpeckers in its nesting-habits. The 

 eggs are generally three in number, nearly an inch in lengih, 

 and of a most beautiful pale blue colour, quite free from any 

 spots or blotches, but not always clean. Endemic [Legge) ? 

 A series of adult birds from both wet and dry districts 

 indicate variation in colour to a considerable extent, those 

 from the wet Kittulgalla district being two or three shades 

 darker than examples from the Kolonna Korah, our driest 

 division. 



155. Sturnornis senex (Legge, B, of C. p. 680, pi. xxviii.). 

 This rare Starling is strictly a forest species. I have 



found it in Balangoda, Bamberabolowa, and Eratue, all 

 three wet districts at the foot of the main mountain-zone. 

 This species, like the foregoing, is gregarious in its habits, 



2 p 2 



