Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 167 



The nest is merely a depression in the ground under a tuft of 

 grass, or a bush, or beside a stone ; the parent bird deposits two 

 oblong eggs of a delicate buff colour, sparingly marked with 

 irregular brown spots. Axis 14 hnes, diam. 11 lines. 



Dr. Kelaart procured another species at Nuwera Elia, which 

 Mr. Blyth has described under the name of 



35. Caprimulgus Kelaarti, Blyth. 

 I have not seen it in its native haunts. 



36. Cypselus Balasiensis, Gray. Wahceleyna, Cing. ; lit. 

 " Rain Fowl," the name for all swifts and swallows. 



Extremely common throughout the island; building in the 

 Borassus flabelliformis, to the dead fronds of which it attaches 

 its nest by some viscid secretion. The nest is a small semicir- 

 cular cup composed of the downy seeds of the Asclepias gigantea 

 and the Bombax pentandrum, which they collect on the wing. 

 The eggs are laid in the months of June or July, from two to four 

 in number, and pui'e white. The species is partially migrato^J^ 



37. Cypselus Melba, Linn. 



Common about Xuwera Elia and the hilly zone ; found also 

 about Damboul and Ratnapoora. 



38. Cypselus affixis. Gray. 



Migratory; breeding in April in large numbers about the 

 rocks at Damboul. I also found them building under a bridge 

 near Tangalle in the low country. The nests, built in clusters, 

 are composed of mud and grasses, Avith a small round entrance 

 precisely resembling those of the martin, Hh^ndo urbica ; the 

 eggs from two to four in number, and purely white. 



39. Macropteryx coronata, Tickell. 



Generally distributed, but affecting the jungles more than the 

 open countiy. It generally selects an elevated and leafless branch, 

 from which it sallies in quest of insects ; when on the wing it 

 utters a peculiar cry resembling the words " chiffle, chaffie," 

 " klecko, klecko," often repeated. Sometimes I have heard them 

 utter the same note when at rest, rapidly elevating and depress- 

 ing the crest. 



I never could find the nests of this species, though the natives 

 assure me they build in old Euphorbia trees in the jungles. It 

 appears about Colombo in March, and disappears in December. 

 I shot a young bird in March; its plumage was green, each 



