SIPHIA TICKELLLE. 423 



and in the Northern Province in the middle of July, so that the breeding-season of this Flycatcher may be 

 said to be May and June throughout the island. I obtained no information concerning its nest and eggs 

 while in Ceylon ; but on reference to ' Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds/ I find that it nests in a niche in a 

 wall or in a hole between branches of a tree at no great height from the ground. A nest taken by Miss Cock- 

 burn is recorded by Mr. Hume as being made of " moss and moss-roots, the latter forming the lining, a good 

 many dead leaves being incorporated in the exterior surface ; it was between 3 and 4 inches in diameter 

 externally, and the egg-cavity was very shallow." In shape the eggs are said to be moderately long ovals, 

 somewhat obtuse at the small end ; the ground-colour is dingy greyish white, very finely freckled and mottled 

 with dingy reddish brown, the markings being everywhere indistinct and feeble, but concentrated and nearly 

 confluent towards the large end, forming a zone or irregularly defined cap. In some specimens the markings 

 are very closely set, so that the eggs appear to be of a pale brownish-rufous colour. The average dimensions 

 of five eggs are 0'76 inch in length by 056 inch in breadth • they have, as a rule, a faint gloss. 



