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JOUKNAL, K.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



ripening rice crops. From October, again, to May, the 

 very opposite is the atmospheric condition of the year. 

 All is quiet, and scarcely a branch moves, unless some 

 storm of an unusual character has taken place. During 

 this period of rest migratory birds visit the district, and the 

 number and variety of species contrast curiously with the 

 south-west months. The north-east rains are much heavier, 

 though the duration of each storm is smaller than in the 

 opposite monsoon. After a downpour, which sometimes 

 exceeds three inches in a few hours, when the sunlight 

 falls again upon the drenched vegetation, birds appear 

 in the greatest profusion. Bulbuls, parrots, barbets, 

 lorikeets, white-eyes, king-crows, shrikes, and many others 

 congregate in flocks — I might say— at such times, and 

 afford easy and abundant opportunities for the collector. 

 In the evenings, after the sun has sunk below the hill 

 ranges, and darkness begins to draw on, the congregation 

 of crows, the returning flight of bee-eaters, the chatter of 

 cattle mynahs, and the majestic movement of a flock of 

 kokn in a white and regular string as they retire to 

 warmer regions, are sights indicative of the quiet and still 

 north-east months, and possess a rare charm. At sunrise 

 the valleys are hidden by long sheets of mist that melt as 

 the day advances, when the migration of birds from their 

 resting-places takes place. At this time the individual call- 

 notes of many birds can be better studied than at any other 

 time— a fact that is of use to the ornithologist in many 

 respects when acquainting himself with the habits of 

 tropical birds. 



As rainfall is considered to be an important factor in the 

 colouring of birds, it is also as well to bear the subject in 

 mind. 



The temperature varies both in regard to altitude and 

 monsoon. At 2,300 feet elevation, at the burst of the mon- 

 soon from the south-west, dry- and wet-bulb readings gave 

 the following result : — 



15th May, 9 a.m.: dry 79°, wet 7°, dew point 72*3°, 

 humidity, 80. 



