BIRDS OF COLOMBO, 97 



than the Madras Bulbul. The plumage above is " ohvaceous 

 brown," with a conspicuous white stripe over the eye, and Hghter 

 brown under the body. 



Family DICRURIDM. 



(331) Dicrurus leucopygialis (the White-bellied Drongo). Resi- 

 dent. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), I., p. 316; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 392. 

 The " King Crow " of Colombo is so called because it is the only 

 bird that will fearlessly attack the crow. It is distinguished by its 

 steel blue colouring and racquet-shaped tail. It is an insect feeder, 

 and its sallies from its perching branch into the open are performed 

 with wonderful grace and agility. It has a variety of pleasing notes. 



Family 8YLVIIDM. 



(374) Orthotomus sutorius (the Indian Tailor-bird). Resident. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), I., p. 366: Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 517. 

 Very common. Its note " to-whit to-whit " or " te-wicke te- 

 wicke " may be heard at all times of the day. Builds a nest by 

 sewing together one or two leaves with cotton thread and lining it 

 with fibre and cotton. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the 

 Tailor-bird is found from the sea-coast *to the summit of Pidurutala- 

 gala (8,200 feet) . Top of head is rufous, upper plumage olive-green, 

 under parts whitish, tail long. The dark patches on either side of 

 the neck are conspicuous when the bird utters its familiar note. 



(381) Cisticola cursitans (the Common Grass Warbler). Resident. 



Gates, Fauna Br, Ind. (Birds), I., p. 374 ; Legge, Birds of 



Ceylon, p. 531. 



Found in nearly all grass fields . Its note is a sharp ' ' chick-chick , ' ' 



and when uttered is often difficult to locate when the bird is on the 



wing. There are other Warblers in Colombo, which I have been 



unable to identify. It is very difficult to distinguish the differences 



between the different kinds of this species, as they are so much 



alike, even when one handles specimens. The study of the Warblers 



still requires a lot more work, for our knowledge of them is by no 



means complete. 



Family LANIIDM. 



Sub-family LANiiNiE. 



(481) Lanius cristatus (the Bro\\Ti Shrike) . Migrant. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), I., p. 468; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 377. 

 Gne of the earliest migrants, arriving at the end of September. 

 Distinguished by its harsh rattling scream. The black eye-stripe is 

 very conspicuous, 

 o 6(2)12 



