254 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA, 
rufous bars and marks ; lower parts white, with dull brown 
bars ; throat and breast tinged with rufous. 
Second Stage: Upper parts and sides of head and neck 
bright chestnut, with broad black bars on the back and wings, 
and a few black spots on the head, hind-neck, rump, and tail 
coverts ; tail feathers chestnut, with irregular black markings 
on the shaft and a large black patch near the tip, which is 
usually white. 
Third Stage: The head, hind-neck, back, rump, and tail 
coverts lose their spots, the dark bars on the wings change to 
spots ; the tail feathers lose all black marks, save the patch 
near the end, and many of the bars on the throat and breast 
disappear, leaving these parts bright chestnut. Young birds 
can always be distinguished from the next species by their 
slightly smaller size, more slender bill, and by the rufous 
tint of the throat,and breast. The change from one stage to 
another is gradual. 
Bill dark brown ; iris reddish- or grayish-brown; legs and 
feet dingy yellow or grayish. 
Length about 9; wing 4°5; tail 4°5; tarsus °65; bill from 
gape |. 
Distribution.— Apparently a migrant, appearing during the 
north-east monsoon, and wandering all over the Island. It is 
commonest in the drier parts of the low-country, and does not 
ascend to any great height. It occurs over the greater part of 
India. 
Habits, &c.—This species frequents low and scrubby jungle, 
the edges of open spaces round tanks, &c. It is a restless and 
rather wary bird. In India during the breeding season it 
has a plaintive, ventriloquistic note, described by Jerdon as 
‘“ ka-veer, ka-vee-eer.’’ During its stay in Ceylon it appears 
to be silent. A few birds may possibly remain and breed in 
Ceylon, as the species is resident over the greater part of its 
range in India. The eggs have been found in the nest of the 
Tailor Bird—O. sutorius. These are of a white type, rather 
larger than the eggs of its host, with a few reddish spots. 
Another type of egg is blue, with even more scanty spots. In 
India it also lays in the nests of the Common Wren Warbler 
(P. inornata) and the Yellow-eyed Babbler (P. sinensis). 
