PASSERINE BFRDS OF CEYLON. 191 



structure, like that of a Sunbird, but I once saw a nest, pre- 

 sumablj'- of this species, like a little hammock suspended at 

 either end from a twig. The two or three eggs are pure white, 

 glossless ovals. Average size '6 by '40. 



ACMONOBHYNCUS VINCENS. 



Legge's Flowerpecker. 



Acmonorhyncxis vincens (Gates. Vol. II., p. 382) ; Pachyglossa 

 vincens (Legge, p. 577). 



Description. — Male : Top and sides of head, the upper 

 plumage, and lesser wing coverts dull, steel blue, paling a little 

 on the rump ; the concealed bases of the feathers black ; 

 wings and tail blackish, the coverts and inner secondaries 

 edged with the hue of the back, the secondaries faintly edged 

 toward the tip with bluish-green, the basal portion of the 

 inner webs of the quills white ; four central tail feathers 

 unmarked, the remainder with white tips, increasing in 

 breadth on the outer feathers ; chin, throat, and chest white ; 

 breast safEron-yellow, paling to almost white on the lower 

 tail coverts. 



Female : Head and hind-neck ashy-blue ; upper plumage 

 olive-brown, tinged with green on the lower back and rump ; 

 wings and tail not so l^lack as in the male ; lower parts not 

 so brightly coloured. 



Bill black, paler at base of lower mandible ; iris brownish - 

 red ; legs and feet blackish-brown. 



Length 4*1; wing 2-35; taU 1-2; tarsus '5; bill from 

 gape • 45. Females are slightly smaller. 



Distribution. — Peculiar to Ceylon, and confined mainly 

 to the forest of the wet low-country zone, but it has recently 

 been recorded from Pussellawa in the Central Pro\ance at an 

 elevation of 3,000 feet. 



Habits. — ^Rather a rare little bird, living entirely among, 

 or near heavy jungle. It associates in small flocks, hunting 

 among creepers on the trunks of trees for berries. Nothing 

 is known of its nidification. 



