PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 125 



DistribtUion. — The form found in Ceylon is a good sub- 

 species, in which the black nape patch is small, and the black 

 bar across the throat wanting. It is fairly abundant in 

 forest and high jungle throughout the low-country and in 

 the lower hills. Allied geographical races are found almost 

 throughout the Indian Empire. 



Habits. — A forest species, generally found singly or in pairs 

 in secluded spots, often near water. It keeps largely to 

 the undergrowth or lower branches, and, like the last species, 

 has a harsh little cheep. The nest is a dainty little cup of 

 fine grass, coated with cobwebs, and placed in the fork of a 

 young sapling among the forest undergrowth at no great 

 height from the ground. The outside of the nest is generally 

 an inverted cone in shape. There are two or three eggs, 

 which are miniatures of those of the last species. Average 

 size • 70 by • 52. 



Rhipidura albifrontata. 



The White-browed Fantail Flycatcher. 



Rhipidura aibifrontata (Oates, Vol. II., p. 52 ; Legge, p. 412). 



Description. — Crown, lores, ear coverts, and the feathers 

 round the eye rusty-black ; the forehead and a broad band 

 over the eye to the nape white ; upper plumage and wings 

 ashy-brown ; the wing coverts with white spots on the tips ; 

 tail darker brown, the central feathers unmarked, the next 

 pair with white tips, which increase in length on the outer 

 feathers, the outside pair being almost entirely white ; lower 

 cheeks, chin, and throat rusty-black, each feather edged with 

 white ; lower throat and sides of breast unmarked rusty- 

 black ; rest of lower parts white. 



Females are slightly lighter brown ; in young bu'ds the 

 feathers of the back and wing coverts have rufous margins. 



Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris brown. 



Length 7 ; wing 3*15; tail 3 • 6 ; tarsus • 75 ; bill from gape • 68. 



Distribution. — This species, divided into several geographical 

 races, is found over the greater part of India, except on 

 the west and north-west. The Ceylon form is probably a 

 good sub-species, and has a peculiar distribution confined 

 to the east and south-east of the Island. The western limit 



