14 SPOLIA ZEYLANIO.V. 



During the last few years there has been a marked increase in 

 the number of Babblers. The KScimitar Babbler only appeared 

 about eighteen months ago, and is becoming almost a nuisance, as he 

 is a noisy bird with a wonderful voice for his size — little larger than 

 the Magpie Robin. The Common Babbler ("Dung Thrush" or 

 " Seven Sisters ") has recently put in an appearance. A good 

 deal of cattle manure has been forked out and horse litter mulched 

 broadcast, which probably suits the habits of this family. There 

 are two or three dams in the immediate neighbourhood, and White- 

 breasted Kingfishers are numerous. I have seen a dozen at a time 

 in one ravine, but this was probably a family not yet separated. 

 I have previously never seen more than four young in a brood. 



The White-eye, Munia, and Tailor birds are the principal garden 

 birds. It is interesting to see forty or fifty Munias systematically 

 cleaning a seed bearer of insects and then flying on to tackle the 

 next. 



Migratory birds mostly come in September and October on their 

 way in, and in March and AprU on their return ; but the Bee- 

 eaters and the Painted Thrush (with the Wagtail) are always about 

 in the north-east monsoon. The Tomtit and the Bulbul are 

 about all the year round, but for some reason not known seem less 

 numerous during the burst of the south-west monsoon. It is 

 possible that they then nest up in the jungle as being more sheltered. 



It may be noted that of 358 species recorded as belonging to 

 Ceylon in the Museum Catalogue, 49 are peculiar to Ceylon, and of 

 these 13 have been seen in Dimbula. 



The mean annual rainfall at Dimbula is about 100 inches, with 

 a minimum of 67 inches and a maximum of 183 inches. 



List of Dimbula Birds (Elevation 4,000-5,000 Feet). 



[S — Shot. » V = Seen. * = Ceylon only. M = Migratory.] 



1. Black Crow, Corvus macrorhynchus (seen once only). 



*2. Ceylonese Magpie or Jay, Cissa ornata. V. 



3. Indian Gray Tit or Gray -backed Titmouse, Par us utri- 



ceps. S. 



4. Common South Indian Babbler, Craieropus striatus. S. 

 *5. Ceylonese Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus melanurus. S. 



6. White-throated Wren Babbler, Z)Mmeita a76igM?aWs. V. 



*7. Palliser's Ant Thrush or Ceylon Shortwing, Elaphrornis 

 palliseri. V. 



8. Comnaon Indian White-eye , Zosierops jtJaZpebrosa. S. , 



*9. Ceylonese White-eye, Zosierops cei/^onensts. S. 



10. Conuuon lora (" Bush Bulbul"), Mgithina tiphia. V- 



11. ^\&,ck'B\\\h\\i., Hypsipetes ganeesa. V. 



12. Madras Red-vented Bulbul, Molpastes hcemorrlious. S 

 *13. Black-capx^ed Bulbul, Pi/cnono?its metomcfents. V 



