370 LALAGE SYKESI. 



(males) in the British Museum, from Mysore, have the wings 3-9 and 4-0, and the tails 3-0 and 3-3; both these 

 are slightly more nigrescent on the interscapular region than C'eylonese birds, and the slate-colour of the breast 

 descends further down the under surface. A young male from Vingorla has the wing 4-1, and is somewhat more 

 cinereous on the back than immature Ceylonese examples. 



Distribution. — This small Cuckoo-Shrike is found in most lowland districts in the island, and ascends into 

 the Kandyan Province to a general altitude of 3000 feet, although in Uva and Madulsima I have seen it 

 much higher than this. It probably finds its way to the Nuwara-Elliya district from the Uva patnas in the 

 dry season, for I find there are some examples from the Sanatorium in the British Museum. They were 

 collected by Mr. Boate, and, I imagine, must have been stragglers thither during the N.E. monsoon. Neither 

 Mr. Holdsworth nor Mr. Bligh have seen it at Nuwara Elliya ; but I observe that Layard says it is found 

 "over the whole island." This expression, however, may refer to the low country. As regards the latter 

 region, I may remark that it is a common bird in the maritime districts of the south-east and north, and in 

 the Western district between Puttalam and Galle it is likewise frequent. According to my experience its 

 numbers decrease towards the hills, except perhaps in the Eastern Province, throughout which I found it 

 plentiful ; for it evidently prefers the low open jungles of the sea-board to the thick forests of the interior. 

 In the Western Province it is, however, more plentiful in Saffragam and in the Raygam and Pasdun Korales 

 than near Colombo. 



On the mainland it is found, according to Jerdon, throughout the whole of India ; but is neither 

 common nor abundant. It is most plentiful in wooded countries where there are considerable tracts of low 

 jungle, not being found in the forests of Southern India, although it is met with in avenues in that part of 

 the country. I do not find it recorded from the Travancore hills; but Mr. Fairbank obtained one example 

 at Periur in the Palanis ; he also found it rare at Ahmednagar, though common in certain localities in the 

 Belgaum district. Proceeding north we find Mr. Ball recording it as a rare bird in Chota Nagpur, Mr. Levin 

 having shot a single example at Palamow ; further to the north-east it is found, according to Jerdon, at 

 Calcutta ; on the western side of the peninsula it does not appear to be common. Captain Butler obtained 

 a few specimens at Mount Aboo, but none elsewhere; and Mr. Adam records it from the Sambhur-Lake 

 district, though only as a straggler. 



Habits. — This species frequents tall trees in open forest or in native compounds, low bushes on the 

 borders of waste land on the sea-coast, isolated clumps in partially cleared forest, and low scrub jungle. Out of the 

 breeding-season the males wander about alone, and the females and young birds become gregarious, associating 

 iu flocks of 5, 10, or 20, and may be seen at evening time flying from bush to bush on the flats round the 

 salt lagoons in the north. In the south it affects Jack-trees in preference to others, climbing about the small 

 branches and among the leaves, preying on the caterpillars and various insects which abound in them. The 

 note of the male is a melodious whistle, and the females have a monosyllabic chirp. Layard merely remarks 

 of it that it is " found in pairs, frequenting high trees and avoiding the neighbourhood of habitations ; it 

 feeds on insects/' This observation as to its consorting iu pairs is only true of it as regards the breeding- 

 season. Jerdon writes more correctly of it that "it hunts usually in small parties, occasionally singly or in 

 pairs, flying from tree to tree, and slowly and carefully examining the foliage, prying searchingly all round 

 and under the leaves to discover a suitable morsel. It continues its search, hopping and flying from branch 

 to branch, till the tree has been well inspected, when the flock flies off together to another tree. Its favourite 

 food is caterpillars and other soft insects. It is usually a silent bird, but has a harsh call ; and on one 

 occasion in June I heard the male giving out a clear whistling call as he was flying from tree to tree." 



Nidification. — With us this Cuekoo-Shrike breeds in April in the Western Province. Mr. Mac Vicar 

 writes me of the discovery, by himself, of two nests last year near Colombo. One was built in the topmost 

 branch of a young Jack-tree, about 40 feet high. It was very small and shallow, measuring 28 inches in breadth 

 and only 08 inch in depth, and the old bird could be seen plainly from beneath sitting across it. The other was 

 situated on the top of a tree about 20 feet from the ground, and was built in the same manner. The materials 

 are not mentioned ; but I conclude they consisted of thin twigs and roots with most likely a coating of 



