PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. Ill 



Bill pale bluish-brown, leaden blue at the base ; iris dull 

 whitish with a narrow brown inner circle ; eye-lid and skin 

 round the eye dull bluish ; legs and feet leaden blue. 



Length 8*4 ; wing 4*3 ; tail 3 ; tarsus 1 ; 1)ill from gape 

 11. 



Distribution. — Peculiar to Ceylon, and confined almost 

 entirely to the slopes of the Peak range and the Kid^ul korale 

 in the Ratnapura District. 



Habits. — A rare bird. It appears to l)e entirely arboreal 

 in its habits, and goes about in small flocks feeding on fruits 

 and berries in the tops of trees. It may be looked for in open 

 spaces dotted over with solitary trees and clumps of jungle, 

 or on the edges of forest and by the side of jungle paths. 

 The nest has been found by Mr. F. Lewis in April. The nest 

 hole was in a tree stem, and much resembled that of the Ceylon 

 Grackle — Etdahes ptilogenys. It contained two pale blue eggs 

 laid on the bare wood. They are rather pointed at the narrow 

 end, and measure 1"01 by '79. 



ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS MELANOSTERNUS. 



The Common Ceylon My null. 



Acridotheres melanosternus (Oates, Vol. I., p. 538 ; Legge p. 670). 



Description. — Forehead, crown, and elongated feathers of 

 the nape, with the feathered portion of the cheeks and ear 

 coverts, glossy black ; chin, throat, upper hind-neck, and 

 fore -neck less glossy black ; remainder of upper plumage, 

 with wing coverts and secondaries dark \nnous brown ; 

 primaries and tail almost black, the tail feathers with white tips 

 which are sometimes abraded, the primaries with white bases ; 

 primary coverts, edge of wing, and wing -lining white, the outer 

 w^ebs of the outermost primary coverts black ; sides of breast 

 and flanks \inous brown ; centre of breast, top of abdomen, 

 and the thighs dull black ; rest of abdomen, vent, and lower 

 tail coverts white. 



In young birds the brown of the plumage has a more rufous 

 tinge, there is no crest on the nape, and the abdomen is tinged 

 with rufous. 



