154 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



the north-east monsoon, but occasionally as late as August. 

 The nest is a loose ball of grass of the usual type, placed in a 

 bush or the branches of a low tree from 3 to 10 feet from the 

 ground. The situation chosen is generally rather a solitary 

 spot, such as the edge of the forest at the head of a tank, or 

 by a grassy roadside in the jungle. There are 4 to 6 eggs, 

 pure white ovals, occasionally rather pointed. Average size 

 •60 by -43. 



Uroloncha kelaarti. 



The Ceylon Munia. 



Uroloncha kelaarti (Gates, Vol. II., p. 187 ; Munia kelaarti 

 (Legge, p. 650). 



Description. — Ujoper plumage chocolate -brown with pale 

 shafts, the crown rather darker ; rump and upper tail coverts 

 almost black with white cross-shaped spots, the longer tail 

 coverts with shining yellow tips ; wing quills blackish-brown ; 

 tail almost black ; sides of neck and of breast pinkish-brown ; 

 cheeks, lores, chin, throat, and fore-neck brownish -black ; 

 lower plumage from breast irregularly chequered white and 

 black. 



Young birds are dark brown above ; they lack the pale 

 shafts and the white marks on the rump ; the whole of the 

 lower parts, including the throat and fore-neck, are mingled 

 brown and pale buff. 



Bill blackish, base of lower mandible bluish ; iris sepia - 

 brown ; legs and feet lead-colour, at times with a greenish 

 tinge. 



Length 4*7; wing 2-1; tail 1*7 ; tarsus '55; bill from 

 gape '45. 



Distribution, — Peculiar to Ceylon and confined to the hills, 

 rarely descending as low as 2,000 feet. It is commonest on 

 the central ranges, from the Peak to the Nuwara Eliya plateau. 



Habits. — Less gregarious than most Munias, only collecting 

 in flocks to roost. The flight, too, is more rapid. It is found 

 deep in hill forests as well as in gardens or on estates. Like 

 the other species it feeds on seeds, and like the sparrow it will 

 hunt for food on dunghills, rubbish heaps, or roadsides. The 



