46 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



Distribution. — Occurs over the greater part of the low- 

 country and on the patanas of the hill country up to about 

 5,500 or 6,000 feet. The same sub-species occurs in Southern 

 India, and another sub-species round Mt. Abu. 



Habits. — Frequents bushy patanas, the long grass, and 

 undergrowth at the edges of paddy fields, roads, and jungle 

 paths, also waste land and low scrub. It roams about in 

 little troops and keeps to cover as much as possible. The 

 breeding season extends from November to June. The 

 nest is a ball of grass with the opening at one side. It is 

 placed within a few inches of the ground in rough grass or a 

 low bush. The three or four eggs are dumpy ovals of china 

 white, thickly speckled and spotted with dull red ; the 

 markings are sometimes confluent at the larger end. Average 

 size -71 by -54. 



Pyctorhis sinensis nasalis. 



The Ceylon Yellow-eyed Babbler. 



Pyctorhis nasalis (Oates, Vol, I., p. 138 ; Legge, p. 512). 



Description. — Upper plumage ruf escent earth-brown, slightly 

 darker on the head ; the tertiaries and the outer webs of 

 the other wing quills shghtly more rufous ; tail feathers 

 grayish-brown, with slightly paler edges ; lores, eyebrows, 

 and the whole of the lower plumage white, tinged on the 

 flanks and from the breast downwards with buff. 



Bill and nostrils black ; iris golden yeUow, eyelid chrome 

 yeUow ; legs and feet dull yellow. 



Length about 6 • 5 ; wing 2 • 6 ; tail 3 -25 ; tarsus 1 ; bill from 

 gape -65. The dimensions are a little variable. 



Distribution. — This sub-species is found only in Ceylon, 

 but an allied form is found almost throughout the Indian 

 Empire and extends into Siam. It is locally but fairly 

 widely distributed up to about 6,000 feet, but its chief haunts 

 are the south-east of the Island, from the Uva patanas 

 to the sea. 



