66 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



Distrihution. — I am of opinion that this form is merely 

 a sub-species of D. coernlescens. It is peculiar to Ceylon, 

 and is common all over the Island up to about 4,500 feet, 

 except in heavy forest or in the Jaffna peninsula and that 

 part of the Mannar District where the Black Drongo occurs. 



Habits. — A familiar bird in the cultivated parts of the 

 country ; it may even be seen in Colombo gardens. It 

 occurs also in open woods, the outskirts of chenas in the 

 jungle, round tanks, &c. It is entirely insectivorous, and, 

 like other Drongos, is fond of taking up a particular perch, 

 from which it makes sallies. The ordinary note is a whistling 

 cry. It is very pugnacious, and bullies birds far larger than 

 itself if they come near. The breeding season is from March 

 to May. The nest is a shallow cup, tightly wedged into the 

 fork of a slender branch. It is lined with fine grass, and 

 thickly coated outside with cobwebs. Three or sometimes 

 only two eggs are laid. In general they are rather stumpy 

 ovals slightly pointed at one end ; some are more elongated. 

 The colour is either pure white with bold brick-red markings, 

 or pale salmon-pink more or less boldly blotched, chieflj'" 

 at the large end, with red, and with a few fainter underlying 

 marks of grayish -purple. Average size • 92 by * 69. 



DiSSEMURULlTS LOPHORHINUS. 



The Ceylon Black Drongo. 



Dissemurulus lopJiorhinus (Oates, Vol. I., p. 322) ; Dissemurus 

 lopTwrhinus (Legge, p. 396). 



D£scription. — Plumage black, highly glossed with blue 

 on the head, hind-neck, throat, and chest ; on the back, 

 wing coverts, and tail the gloss is greener ; flanks and abdomen 

 rusty-black without any gloss. In immature birds the 

 low^er tail coverts and wing-lining are tipped with white. 



Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris dull brownish or dark 

 yellowish -red. 



Length, variable, up to about 14 ; wing 5*8 ' tail, in adults, 

 up to 8 ; tarsus 1 'Go ; bill 1 -4. 



