586 ZOSTEEOPS CEYLONENSIS. 



which he had shown to Dr. Jerdon, and pointed out the difEerences between it and palpebrosa, and further 

 remarks that it appeared close to Z. ceyhnensis in size and colour, but had no more yellow on the neck than the 

 ordinary species. Nothing, however, seems to have been further noted of this supposed species ; and whatever it 

 may be, I doubt not that it is different from our bird. 



Distribution. — This White-eye is a very abundant species in the main range, especially on the Nuwara- 

 Elliya plateau ; it is, however, numerous in all the circumjacent coffee-districts, down to about 3000 feet, and 

 likewise in the Haputale, Badulla, and Madulsima ranges ; beyond the valley of Dumbara it frequents the 

 upper parts of the Knuckles and the east and west Matale hills. In Maskelya it is common, and in the Peak 

 forests I met with it in great abundance down to an elevation of 2000 feet. On the south side of the great 

 valley of Saffragam it reappears and inhabits the coffee-districts of the Kolonna, Kukkul, and Morowak Korales, 

 and ranges thence into the subsidiary hill forests between the upper part of the Gindurah river and Gallc. 

 Here I found it, as recorded in 'The Ibis/ 1874, on the summits of the Opate and Oodogamma hills, as low 

 down as 1500 feet, which is the least elevation at which I have observed it. It would be interesting to know 

 whether it inhabits the isolated Muncragala range, which stands out in the low country beyond the slopes 

 of the Passara and Limugala hills, and is quite disconnected from them. 



Habits, — The Hill White-eye frequents both the interior and the edges of forest, patna-jungle, underwood, 

 and low bushes in open places near woods and so forth, affecting the lateral branches of tall trees, the tops of 

 smaller ones, and the foliage of shrubs and undergrowth. It has no partiality for any situation in particular, 

 but consorting in very large flocks, where insect life abounds, the birds composing them may be found both 

 high up and low down in their leafy haunts, little parties clinging to the twigs of the smallest bushes, others 

 searching the branches of sapplings, while the foliage of the monarchs of the forest high overhead teems with 

 dozens more, the whole concourse moving on by twos and threes in quick succession as the leaves are cleared 

 of their insect-pests and all the tempting buds eagerly nipped off. It is seen much about the edges of paths in 

 the jungle ; and in such localities it exhibits an utter fearlessness of man, allowing so near an approach that I 

 have often stopped to watch the movements of a pair feeding close to me, and been able to admire the handsome 

 white eye-fringe as well as if I had had its tiny owner in my hand. Its principal note is a sparrow-like chirp, 

 which it is particularly energetic in uttering when in large flocks. 



Mr. Holdsworih writes of it: — "As these birds are very common, and constantly flying in small parties 

 from bush to bush, uttering their lively chirp, they attract attention ; and the little White-eye is familiar to 

 most Europeans who visit Nuwara Elliya. In the winter the males associate in flocks of fifteen or twenty ; and 

 it is then rare to find a female in their company. I believe the latter are for the time solitary, as, with one 

 exception, the numerous specimens I have shot from different flocks have proved to be males." In the months 

 of December and January I have seen hundreds in a flock in the Nuwara-Elliya jungles. 



Nidification. — This species breeds from March until May, judging from the young birds which are seen 

 abroad about the latter month. Mr. Bligh found the nest in March on Catton Estate. It was built in a 

 coffee-bush a few feet from the ground, and was a rather frail structure, suspended from the arms of a small 

 fork formed by one bare twig crossing another. In shape it was a shallow cup, well made of small roots and 

 bents, lined with hair-like tendrils of moss, and was adorned about the exterior with a few cobwebs and a little 

 moss. The eggs were three in number, pointed ovals, and of a pale bluish-green ground-colour. They 

 measured, on the average, 0'64 by - 45 inch. 



On the Plate accompanying my article on Pachyglossa vincens will be found a figure of the present species. 



