PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 131 



Distribution. — This species, of which there are several races, 

 is found in summer in the far north from Western Europe 

 to the Pacific Coast of Asia. It winters in warmer climates 

 from North Africa to Southern China. With us it is an ex- 

 tremely rare north-east monsoon visitor. A few specimens 

 were procured by Layard at Ambagamuwa, and Legge 

 believes that he once saw it in the North-Western Province. 



Habits. — May be looked for in gardens and open country. 



Thamnobia fulicata. 



The Black Robin. 



Tliamnobia fulicata (Gates, Vol. II., p. 115 ; Legge, p. 440). 



Description. — Male : Whole body plumage glossy blue- 

 black, except the lower abdomen and lower tail coverts, which 

 are chestnut ; wings and tail a less glossy black ; a white 

 patch on the lesser and median wing coverts ; towards the 

 moulting season the plumage loses some of its gloss and hue. 



Female : Feathers of upper plumage dusky-brown with 

 slightly brighter brown edges, most noticeable on the wing 

 coverts ; wing quills rather paler brown ; upper tail coverts 

 and tail black ; lower parts dusky-brown with a slightly 

 grayish tinge, the tips of the abdominal feathers and the 

 lower tail coverts dull chestnut. 



Young : Blackish-brown above, the wing coverts and 

 quills with broad rufous edges ; upper tail coverts and tail 

 blackish ; feathers of head and fore-neck tipped with rufescent 

 gray ; lower parts dark brown mottled with rufous ; centre 

 of abdomen and under taO coverts pale chestnut. 



Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris brown. 



Length 6 • 3 ; wing 2 • 85 ; tail 2*5; tarsus 1 ; bill from gape • 7. 



Distribution. — Abundant all over the low-country, more 

 especially in the drier districts. It ascends the hills up to 

 about 4,000 feet. It also occurs in the southern half of the 

 Indian Peninsula. 



Habits. — A very familiar bird, whether in town gardens, 

 near villages, in chenas and low scrub jungle, or round tanks, 

 and fields. It is as active and perky in all its move- 

 ments, and as fearless of man as its namesake, the 



