PTCTOEHIS NASALIS. 513 



overgrown portions of the Colombo cinnamon-gardens, and occurs in such-like situations throughout the more 

 open parts of the interior ; further south I have found it at Amblangoda and near Galle and Matara ; but it 

 does not become common until the dry low-lying south-eastern country is reached, of nearly all parts of which 

 it is an inhabitant. The open elevated regions of Madulsima and Uva are, perhaps, its head-quarters, in all 

 the patnas of which it is a very common bird, extending up to the vicinity of Hakgala, which has an elevation of 

 5800 feet. In the eastern portions of Dumbara, and in the country lying between Bintenne and Batticaloa, it 

 is also found, occurring likewise in low cheena-copses throughout the north-east, or the country on the right 

 bank of the Mahawelliganga. Layard writes that he obtained a few specimens in the Anaradhapura Vanni, 

 and I have no doubt that it is found in places as far north as Elephant Pass. 



Habits. — Swampy fern-brakes, grass-fields interspersed with bushes, low jungle in cheenas, and patnas 

 covered with maana-grass, lantana, and thick cover are the localities chiefly frequented by the present species. 

 It is a shy bird, except in the breeding-season, resorting to underwood or long grass during most of the day, 

 and not showing itself to any extent until evening, when it perches on the top of a bush, and gives out its loud 

 far-sounding, rather plaintive whistle of two notes, varied with a peculiar mewing call. It is generally fouud 

 in pairs, in which habit it differs from most of its family, and when disturbed from its haunts flies quickly 

 out, and, settling for a moment on a tall grass-stalk or prominent stick, drops into the nearest bush at hand. 

 A little group of three or four are, however, sometimes seen together ; but, in general, I imagine that they 

 consist of a young brood with their parents. It proceeds swiftly through the thickest grass, and when wounded 

 or winged runs with great speed on the ground, and inevitably escapes into the tangled undergrowth. In the 

 breeding-season it is a lively bird, with all the manners of a Warbler, flying hither and thither, the male 

 continually alighting on some prominent position and uttering a strong and rather pretty warble. I have 

 always found its food to consist of small Coleoptera and various minute insects. The district of Uva is the only 

 locality where I have seen small parties of this bird, and then not more than three or four together, which 

 were probably, as previously remarked, a young brood accompanied by their parents. 



Jerdon writes of its Indian ally, " It frequents low jungles on the skirts of forests, long grass, hedge-rows, 

 and even comes occasionally into gardens. Though sometimes to be met with singly, it is generally seen in 

 small parties of five or six, flying from bush to bush before you, and trying to conceal itself in some thick 

 clump. It has a low chattering note when at rest, and when flying from bush to bush a loud sibilant whistle. 

 I have on several occasions heard one, perched conspicuously on a high bush, pour forth a remarkably sweet 

 song." In this latter habit the Indian species exactly resembles ours. 



Modification. — In the Western Province this Babbler commences to breed in February ; but in May I 

 found several nests in the Uva district near Port Macdonald ; and that month would thus seem to be the 

 nesting-season in the Central Province. The nest is placed in the fork of a shrub, or in a huge tuft of maana- 

 grass, without any attempt at concealment, about 3 or 4 feet from the ground. It is a neatly -made compact cup, 

 well finished off about the top and exterior, and constructed of dry grass, adorned with cobwebs or lichens, 

 and lined with fine grass or roots. The exterior is about 2\ inches in diameter by about 2 in depth. The 

 eggs are usually three in number, fleshy white, boldly spotted, chiefly about the larger end, with brownish 

 sienna; in some these markings are inclined to become confluent, and are at times overlaid with dark spots of 

 brick-red. They are rather broad ovals, measuring, on the average, from 0"76 to 0-79 inch in length by 0"56 

 to 0"59 in breadth. 



The figure of this species in the Plate accompanying the next article is that of a female shot in the 

 Madulsima district. 



3u 



