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DENDKOPHILA FRONTALIS. 561 



Palawan do differ in the above respects from the continental Indian and the Ceylonese specimens. The series, 

 however, is too small, it appears, to form a correct conclusion from ; for I find that Mr. Hume, commenting on 

 this ^ subject in ' Stray Feathers,' 1878, vol. vii. p. 459, states that he has " numerous Indian and Burmese 

 specimens exhibiting in a marked degree the alleged characteristics of both forms,"— that is, that both white and 

 lilac-coloured throats exist in continental birds. This being the case, I do not think it advisable to place the 

 Ceylonese birds at present under Hodgson's name, as, although all my specimens exhibit the white-throated 

 character, I have not enough of them to base a safe conclusion on. As regards size, there is but little to choose 

 in either of the alleged races. Mr. Oates gives the wing-measurements of four males from Pegu as 2-75 to 3-0 

 inches ; and the wings of those I have examined are as follows : — D. corallina : 2 , Burmah, 2-75 inches ; g , Nepal, 

 2-9 ; $ , Nepal, 2-7 ; 2, N.W. Himalayas, 2-85 ; d , Pegu, 2-95. B. frontalis : 2 , Sarawak, 2-8 ; 2 , Palawan, 2-8 '; 

 Java, 2-9. I must remark that these examples from the Malay region seem to be slightly more purple on the back 

 than the Indian birds ; and I do not think the matter can be definitely settled until a large series is procured from 

 Java and the fact is ascertained satisfactorily whether the Javan birds have or have not white throats occasionally. 

 Hodgson bestowed his title on a Nepalese skin ; and Gray subsequently applied it to birds from Nepal, Ceylon, 

 and Pegu, placing the Burmese form with the Javan as D. frontalis, his distinction being that the latter was 

 smaller and had a darker bill than D. corallina. The latter character is peculiar to immature birds. 



Distribution. — This pretty little Creeper is numerous throughout all the hill-zone, inhabiting the upper 

 ranges to their summits, and is likewise common in the forests and fine tree-jungle of all the low country. 

 In various parts of the northern forest tract wherever the trees are large and lofty it is numerous ; and this is 

 likewise true of the Eastern Province and the forest regions of the south-east, along the rivers of which, as 

 well as in the country between Pollanarura and Anaradjapura, I have found it almost as abundant as in the 

 hills. It frequents the timber-jungles between the southern ranges and Galle, and is common in the Pasdun 

 Korale and in the timber-forests of Saffragam. It occurs sometimes, during the north-east monsoon, on the 

 sea-board between Colombo and Galle. 



On the continent this Nuthatch is found in the wooded and hilly districts of India, from the extreme 

 south to the Himalayas, and extends south-eastwards through Burmah and Pegu to Tenasserim. It appeal's 

 to be very abundant in the hills of the south of the Indian peninsula. Jerdon speaks of it being numerous 

 in the Nilghiris, and further remarks : — " I have found it on the Malabar coast, .... in Central India, in 

 Goomsoor, and also in the Himalayas. It is also found in Assam and Burmah. On the Himalayas I only found 

 it in the warmer valleys." Mr. Bourdillon says it is a common species in the hills of Travancore, " frequenting 

 the margins of clearings in the forest;" and on the Palanis it is, according to Dr. Fairbank, found wherever 

 there are trees, both at the top and bottom of the range. He likewise obtained it on the Goa frontier. 

 Tickell procured it in Dkolbkuni, and it has been obtained all along the sub- Himalayan region from the north- 

 west to Darjiling. It is recorded from Assam by M'Clelland, and from Arrakan by Messrs. Barry and 

 Anderson. Mr. Oates writes that it is very common in the Pegu hills. In Tenasserim it is noted by 

 Messrs. Hume and Davison from many localities ; and these gentlemen consider it to be common everywhere 

 throughout the province up to 5000 feet, though it is not as numerous, according to the latter gentleman, 

 as in the Nilghiris. Its range through the countries to the south, in common with that of all birds in these 

 imperfectly explored regions, is not so well known. It is believed to be found all down the Malay peninsula 

 to the very south, and probably occurs in Sumatra, as it is found in the next island, Java, and further east 

 still in Borneo, whence it has been sent from the province of Sarawak. 



Habits. — This pretty little species, which recalls to the wanderer in the wilds of Ceylon the familiar 

 little Nuthatch of England, lives in small troops of half a dozen or so, and is in its habits one of the most 

 active birds imaginable. It is ever on the move, nimbly running up and down and round the trunks of trees, 

 traversing and retraversing the huge boles which protrude from the giant pillars of the forest, or tripping 

 along beneath the massive limbs which grandly overhang the solitary sylvan tanks of Northern Ceylon. It 

 does not remain long in one tree, but darts quickly on from one to the other, followed by its companions, and 

 when it alights gives out its trilling little note, which, although comparatively weak, is audible at a considerable 

 distance. In the tall timber-forests of the Central Province which grow on steep inclines this little note may 

 be heard far overhead, as one is toiling up the face of the mountain, although it is often scarcely possible to 



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