PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 185 



Female : Upper plumage, including wings and sides of 

 head and neck, olive-brown ; taU black, the outer feathers 

 with brownish-white tips ; lower parts dull yellow. 



Males after the autumn moult resemble females, with the 

 exception of a broad metallic stripe down the fore-neck and 

 a certain amount of metallic gloss on the lesser wing coverts 

 and tail coverts. The breeding plumage is gradually assumed 

 after a few weeks. 



Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris brown. 



Length 5-5; wing 2-3; tail 1-6; tarsus -6; bill from 

 gape 1*1. Females are slightly smaller. 



Distribution. — Common in most parts of the low-country, 

 except in the arid coast zone of the north, north-west, and 

 south-east. It occurs in the hills up to about 3,000 feet, 

 in certain localities considerably higher. It is also found in 

 Southern India. 



Habits. — Familiar in flower gardens throughout its range. 

 In the jungle it avoids forest, and is commonest in open 

 bushy spaces near trees. It feeds mainly on the nectar and 

 pollen of flowers, and is very partial to Hibiscus blossoms. 

 At times it eats small spiders and other soft insects. The 

 breeding season is from February to May. The nest is usually, 

 not the little hanging structure made by most species, but 

 placed in the large flocculent masses of cobweb spun in low 

 bushes by a certain species of spider. 



In the interior of the mass the birds press out a more or 

 less globular chamber, lining the walls with vegetable down, 

 and generally providing a little eave of cobweb over the 

 entrance, which is at one side. If spider's webs are not 

 available, they appear on occasions to construct a little pear- 

 shaped, hanging structure like that of the next species. The 

 two or, very rarely, three eggs are long ovals, rather pointed 

 at the small end. The ground colour is grayish-white, evenly 

 marked all over with fine, streaky spots of grayish -brown, 

 at times with a dull purplish or greenish tinge. Occasionally 

 the marks are concentrated in a zone towards the large end. 

 Average size • 69 by • 46. 



24 6(17)21 



