ZOSTBEOPS. — IXUXUS. 145 



lined with very fine grass and hair. The eggs are two in number, 

 of a roundish ova] shape, and a pale greenish-blue colour." 



Finally Colonel Legge informs us that this species breeds in 

 Ceylon in June, July, and August. 



The eggs are somewhat lengthened ovals (occasionally rather 

 broader), and a good deal pointed towards the small end. 

 The shell is very fine but almost glossless ; here and there a some- 

 what more glossy egg is met with. They are normally of a uni- 

 form very pale blue or greenish blue, without any markings what- 

 soever, but once in a way an egg is seen characterized by a cap or 

 zone of a somewhat purer and deeper blue. Abnormally large 

 and small specimens are common. They vary in length from 053 

 to 0-7, and in breadth from 0-42 to 0-58 ; but the average of thirty- 

 eight eggs is 0-62 by 0-47, and the great majority of the eggs are 

 really about this size. 



229. Zosterops ceylonensis, Holdsworth. The Ceylon White-eye. 

 Zosterops ceylonensis, Holdsw., Hume, Cat. no. 631 bis. 



Colonel Legge, referring to the nidification of the Ceylon White- 

 eye, says : — " 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, "64 by 45 inch." 



231. Ixulus occipitalis (Bl.). The Chestnut-headed Ixulus. 



Ixulus occipitalis {Bl.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 259 ; Hume, Rough Draft 

 N. 8f E. no. 624. 



A nest of this species, taken by Mr. Gainmie out of a small tree 

 below Rungbee, at an elevation of about 3000 feet, was a small, 

 somewhat shallow cup, composed almost entirely of very fine moss- 

 roots, but with a little moss incorporated in the outer surface. 

 Externally the nest was about 3^ inches in diameter and 2 inches 

 in height. The egg-cavity was about 2\ inches by barely 1^ inch. 

 This nest was found on the 17th June and contained three hard- 

 set eggs, which were thrown away ! 



232. Ixulus flavicollis (Hodgs.). The Yellow -naped Iceulus. 



Ixulus flavicollis {Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 259 ; Hume, Hough 

 Draft N. # E. no. 623. 

 vol. 1. 10 



