262 Mr. E. L. Eayard on the Ornithologij of Ceylon. 



XXVI. — Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon, collected during 

 an eight years' residence in the Island. By Edgar Leopold 

 Layard, CCS. 



[Continued from p. 176.] 



68. PiPRlSOMA AGILE, Blytb. 



1 procured a single pair of these birds along the Central road, 

 but know nothing of their habits. 



69. Orthotomus longicauda, Gmel. 



Everywhere common. It builds in broad-leaved shrubs ; the 

 nest is generally composed of cottony fibres mingled with horse- 

 hair, and enclosed between two leaves whose edges are sown 

 together with cobweb. I once saw a nest built among the nar- 

 row leaves of the oleander [Nerium odorum) ; it was constructed 

 entirely of cocoa-nut fibre, and at least a dozen leaves were drawn 

 into the shape of a dome, and securely stitched together, a 

 small entrance being left at one side. The eggs usually are from 

 three to five in number, of a greenish white colour, with reddish 

 quadrangular blotches at the thick end. The favourite prey of 

 this species is spiders, and their cheerful cry of "pretty, pretty," 

 may be heard at all hours of the day among the coppices, through 

 which with elevated tails and abrupt jerking motions they hunt 

 for them. 



70. CiSTicoLA OMALURA, Blyth, J. A. S. xviii. 



I first discovered this species in 1847 in paddy fields near 

 Galle, and subsequently found it sparingly about Colombo, and 

 abundantly in the fields of gingelle {Sesamum orientate) at Pt. 

 Pedro. When alarmed they drop down to the roots of the 

 grasses, and are flushed with difficulty. Their flight is weak, and 

 sustained by short jerks, and when on the wing they utter a 

 faint but not unpleasing chipping note. 



Dr. Kelaart says of this species, that " it is found in great 

 abundance on Horton plains and Nuwera Elia, where they build 

 their nests among the long patna grasses and reeds.^' 



71. CiSTlCOLA CURSITANS, Blyth. 



Is much less common than the preceding, and- though found 

 in the same locality, it frequents trees and jungle. Dr. Kelaart 

 states he procured it abundantly at Trincomalie. 



72. Drymoica valida, Blyth, J. A. S. xx. 180. 



Peculiar to Ceylon. Discovered by myself in 1848, and de- 

 scribed by Mr. Blyth in J. A. S. xviii. under the name of D. 



