RUBIGULA MELANICTERA. 479 



Towards its own kin it is extremely sociable, generally living in close fellowship, particularly in the nesting- 

 time. It is rarely disturbed without the little call-note whee-whee being speedily heard, and its companion 

 is seen flying across the jungle-path or other spot in search of it. 



Nidification. — This Bulbul breeds in the southern and central portions of the island from April to 

 September, probably rearing two broods. In the Kandyan Province Mr. Bligh has found its eggs in the 

 former and I myself in the latter month. It usually builds in the fork of a low tree or bush near the ground, 

 and sometimes even on a dead stump. I have taken the nest fixed in a horizontal bifurcation of a small 

 branch which overhung a mountain-stream. It was a loosely-constructed fabric, but tolerably substantial 

 notwithstanding, made in a cup-shape of fine roots, grass, bents, and very small twigs, among which were fixed 

 some dead leaves, the interior being lined with fine grasses. The eggs were two in number, and the diameter 

 of the nest inside was If in. by \\ in. in depth. In other nests brought to my notice there were three eggs ; 

 one of these was constructed of grass and creeper-tendrils and placed on a low stump amidst some bushes. 

 In the southern province I have received its eggs in the beginning of April. Mr. Bligh describes to me a 

 nest which he found in Haputale on the top of an isolated bush about 6 feet from the ground. " It was," he 

 writes, " barely daylight when it was discovered, and the old bird was on the nest ; this I took; and about half 

 an hour afterwards, on returning to the spot, found the bereaved pair sitting by each other, their sides touching, 

 close to the former position of the nest ; and though I approached within two yards of them, they sat still, 

 wearing the most dejected aspect — as well they might ! — causing me much to regret having removed it, 

 although I ivas under the impression that it was the first nest of this species ever discovered." It was, he 

 remarks, a simple but very strong little structure for the materials used ; the outside was principally com- 

 posed of small dead leaves with rough surfaces, next to which was a thin weaving of a kind of flower-stalk 

 which partly entwined the leaves ; these stalks were a few inches in length, with a rough exterior, and of 

 the thickness of very thin twine : to the minute barbs on the surface of these stalks was fixed here and there 

 some spiders' webs, which, combined with the peculiar nature o£ the stalks, which readily adhered to one 

 another, formed a compact and strong material. The interior measured 2 inches in breadth by H inch in 

 depth, and was lined with fine grass and fibres. 



The eggs vary but little in character : the ground-colour is reddish white, thickly covered with moderately- 

 sized spots of reddish brown, dusky red. and red, under which lie a few specks of bluish grey ; in some 

 specimens the markings are confluent at the large end : in shape they are rather broad ovals, slightly pointed 

 at one end, and average 0"78 to 0*8 inch in length by - 57 to 0'59inch in breadth. 



• In the Plate accompanying my article on Myiophonus blighi is to be found a figure of a male of this 

 species shot near Kanthelai Tank. 



Genus KELAARTIA. 



Bill with the upper mandible more curved than in Rubigula ; rictal bristles well developed. 

 Wings rounded, with the 3rd and 4th quills shorter than in the last ; the 5th and 6th the longest. 

 Tail nearly as long as the wings. Legs and feet robust. Tarsus scutellated. 



Feathers of the crown scale-like ; nuchal hairs long. 



