420 STOPAliOLA SORDIDA. 



according to my observation ; but it is abundant slightly lower down, at Nuwara Elliya, and throughout the 

 main range. It is numerous in jungles throughout all the coffee-districts, particularly in the Knuckles and 

 in Uva. Lower down it is less frequent, except in the secluded woods through which the affluents of the 

 Mahawelliganga flow. It is found in the Singha-Rajah and other forests bordering the Kukkul Korale, and at 

 a similarly low elevation on the south-eastern slopes of the Uva ranges. 



Habits. — This is a quiet bird, of less active movements than most Flycatchers, and is usually found 

 frequenting the outskirts of forest, the edges of clearings, the borders of mountain-streams, or the sides of 

 roads and paths, in preference to the depths of the jungle. On a few occasions I have observed it in small 

 flocks of half a dozen or more on the banks of broad, sunny torrents ; but this is not usual. The male has a 

 sweet little warble, which it patiently whistles all day long, particularly in the breeding-season, seated near its 

 mate ; and the note is so low and clear that it seems to come from a distance, whereas the bird is actually 

 sitting close at hand. 



It frequently perches on fallen trees and low stumps, on which it will sit in perfect silence until disturbed, 

 when it does not take the trouble to fly far, but simply flits to the nearest inviting twig. It evinces little or 

 no fear of man. Mr. Bligh, who has had much opportunity of observing its habits during a long residence in 

 the coffee-districts, informs me that it is not sociably inclined, that the males are very pugnacious, and that 

 when two meet they utter their song in a high key and in " a passionate hurried manner." He further 

 writes : — " Its sweet plaintive notes are heard during many months of the year ; it affects low perches 

 from which to pour forth its contentment in song, such as the stump of a tree, a log or rock in the coffee, or 

 an exposed branch by the juugle-side. Its song has a certain charm, possessing no small resemblance to the 

 plaintive whistling of the Blackbird. It is a very silent bird except when singing ; indeed I have never heard 

 it utter a call-note beyond a scarcely audible ' sip ' when it is near its nest." 



Nidif cation. — From the pen of the same observant naturalist, Mr. Bligh, I gather the following infor- 

 mation concerning the nesting of this interesting little bird. He says, "The nest is generally concealed in 

 various suitable places, such as a shallow hole in a rotten stump or in the trunk of a forest tree ; and I once 

 found it in a felled tree, well protected by a thick branch of a coffee-bush which grew over it ; it is composed 

 of moss, lichens, and grasses lined with fine fibrous materials, and is like a Blackbird's in miniature. The 

 eggs are dull white, thickly sprinkled and blotched with dark reddish." 



The breeding-season would appear to be in April and May ; for 1 have shot the young in mixed nestling 

 and blue plumage in the mouth of August, both in the Peak and Kukkul-Korale forests. 



The lower figure in the Plate accompanying my article on Alseonax muttui represents a male of the 

 present species, shot at Debedde Gap in Uva. 



Genus SIPHIA. 

 Bill not so wide as in Stoparola, compressed towards the tip ; rictal bristles not so long ; 

 1st primary very short, 2nd slightly exceeding the 8th ; the 4th and 5th the longest, considerably 

 exceeding the 3rd. Tail shorter than the wings. Tarsus shorter than in the last genus, but 

 exceeding the middle toe without its claw. 



