5J8 Ml'. F. Lewis on the Land-birds of 



but the flocks of birds rarely exceed ten or a dozen in 

 number. 



I am indebted to Mr. George W. Jenkins for having 

 obtained the eggs of Sturnornis senex. The nest was placed 

 in a tall forest-tree, in a rotten cavity of the stem, and rudely 

 lined with dry leaves of some monocotyledonous plant. The 

 eggs were two in number and of a pale, delicate^ spotless blue 

 colour. Endemic. 



156. EuLABEs REHGiosA (Leggc^ B. of C. p. 682). 



A curiously-distributed Mynah, and chiefly restricted to 

 the wet districts. I have met with it in all the region at 

 the foot of the main hill-range from Kittulgalla to Balangoda, 

 thus embracing the wettest part of Ceylon, but for some 

 remarkable I'eason it is absent in parts of the Kukulu Korah, 

 where the rainfall is distressingly excessive. I have traced 

 it on the borders of the dry country on the north-west and 

 south-west extremes of the province, where it is abundant. 



I have not obtained the eggs, though nests have been 

 repeatedly pointed out to me by the natives, who are fond of 

 caging this bird. 



157. EuLABES PTILOGENYS (Lcggc, B. of C. p. 685, 

 pi. xxix.). 



This Mynah appears to take the place in the hill-country 

 that E. religiosa does in the lower altitudes. It is widely dis- 

 tributed, and to be found nearly all over the wet districts of 

 the province, but more abundantly in the hills. It breeds in 

 the S.W. monsoon months, placing its nest in hollows of 

 rotten trees. The eggs are two in number, broad oval, and 

 of a pale blue colour faintly tinted with a greenish shade, 

 with spots or blotches sparingly spattered over, of a greyish- 

 brown tint. Endemic. 



158. Pitta coronata (Legge, B. of C. p. 687). 



A typical migrant, arriving in September soon after the 

 Wagtails. During its visit to the country it is to be found 

 in abundance up to 3000 feet altitude, and is so familiar to 

 the natives as to enjoy a specific name. It is frequently 

 snared bv the Singalese, but cannot be reared in captivity. 



