MTJSOICAPA HYPERYTHRA. 429 



Mr. Nietner, a German gentleman residing in the Pundooloya coffee- district ; it appears, moreover, to be more 

 plentiful in the island than in any other part of the mainland in which it has been observed. Previous to its being 

 discovered it must therefore have been passed over by naturalists working in the Central Province ; it is 

 every season more or less common in that part, and now that its existence in the island has been made 

 known it is frequently shot in the Nuwara-Elliya and surrounding districts. Mr. Holdsworth, however, was 

 the second naturalist to procure it in Ceylon, obtaining specimens near Nuwara Elliya in 1870 ; and on the 

 publication of his catalogue in the 'Proceedings of the Zoological Society ' for 1872 he added the species to 

 the Ceylonese avifauna. It arrives in October, and does not even appear to have been noticed in the northern 

 province during transit ; it is in the upper hills that it is first observed, and it takes up its quarters in no 

 locality that I am aware of under an elevation of 2500 feet. It inhabits the Horton Plains, the whole of the 

 main range, the Haputale and other Uva ranges, the upper parts of the Peak forest, and all the surrounding 

 coffee-districts above the altitude I have named. Its appearance in the coffee-districts is, notwithstanding, 

 somewhat irregular, being plentiful during one season in certain places, from which, in the following year, it 

 may be totally absent. Mr. Bligh has noticed this fact in the Kotmalie and Haputale districts, and I myself 

 found it common on the Rambodde pass in 1876-77, a locality where it has rarely been previously observed. 

 It was described by Cabanis (loc. cit.) from the specimen sent to him by Mr. Nietner. 



On the continent it has only been observed in the sub-Himalayan region. The first specimen sent home 

 from India was, Mr. Holdsworth writes, obtained at Goona, in Cashmere; Mr. Brooks records, in 'Stray 

 Feathers/ 1875, the procuring of an example near Mussoori in the beginning of May, and adds that "it is 

 not an alpine bird." If this be the case it is difficult to conjecture where it breeds, as it has not been observed 

 in Bengal. The same writer, however, makes a subsequent contrary statement, and says (Str. Feath. 1877, 

 p. 471), " Erythrosiema hyperythra appears to be a resident hill-species." The singular fact of its not having 

 been seen in any of the hill-districts of Southern India can only be accounted for on the supposition that it 

 follows the line of the east coast of the peninsula in migrating to Ceylon ; but how it contrives to reach that 

 island unobserved throughout its long route of migration is indeed a mystery ! 



Habits. — This little bird frequents forest, more particularly its edges, and also trees at the sides of paths 

 cut through the jungle ; it is likewise to be found about the rhododendrons and other stunted trees lining the 

 streams which flow through the patnas and " plains " in the main range. It betrays its presence by a mono- 

 syllabic whistle, followed by a sharp little trill, recalling somewhat the note of the Wheatear. It is a restless 

 species and active in its movements, quickly darting on its prey, on seizing which it will often glide to a 

 prominent perch, such as a branch overhanging the road, or a stump in the coffee close to the pathway, and 

 there giving out its lively whistle, will again dart off to another post of observation. Adult males are usually 

 found alone, but not far from each other ; and I have noticed that the young birds, of which numbers visit us, 

 pass a solitary existence entirely away from the companionship of their fellows. 



