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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



During my stay in Bogawantalawa I saw this Swift repeatedly. 

 It seemed to have no special hour for hawking about, unless in 

 the mornings, and in the evenings after rain. 



16. Collocalia Francica, the Indian Edible-nest Swift. Very 

 numerous. Wet evenings appeared to be their favourite time for 

 appearing, when they would assemble in great numbers. 



In Maskeliya I had the good fortune to come upon a large 

 " breeding station " of these Swifts, situated in a cavernous stream, 

 at a high elevation. I may here mention, with regard to the nidi- 

 ficationof this species, that Oapt. Legge,in his " History of Ceylon 

 Birds," says (p. 325) that " the breeding-season of this little Swift- 

 let in Ceylon lasts from March until June." I have found both 

 eggs and birds in all stages of devolopment at the latter end of 

 September, and also in the early part of the year ; so it appears 

 probable that it breeds at all times of the year. 



17. Caprimulgus Kelaarti, Kelaart's N ight-jar. I am indebted 

 to Mr. Roberts for information respecting this species. He 

 informs me that he saw it more than once, and on one occasion 

 in the compound of his bungalow. It is also said to be 

 " common " on the patanas. I procured a specimen on the 28th 

 November, 1876, on the Ingestre estate, which might, from its 

 situation, be considered as in Lower Bogawantalawa. I neither 

 heard nor saw it this year during my short stay in the district. 



18. Cissa ornata, the Ceylon Jay. Very common in suitable 

 localities. I am inclined to think this Jay builds up-country, as 

 on one occasion I found a broken shell at the foot of a high forest 

 tree, to and from which I had repeatedly observed a pair of J ays 

 going and coming. The egg, or piece of it, was bluish-green in 

 colour, closely freckled over with dots and blotches of rust-red 

 and chocolate-brown. 



19. Pericrocotus flammeus, the Orange Minivet, Common 

 in suitable localities. During very wet weather this bird appears 

 to become suddenly scarce, and as soon as a blink of sunshine 

 comes out, the sharp little twitter and graceful flight of the bird 

 soon proclaims its presence. Individual birds are rarely seen, as 

 these Minivets keep together in small parties of five or six, and 

 even more. 



20. Hypothymis Ceylonensis, the Azure Fly-catcher. By no 

 means common, though not rare. I found it in thick jungle 

 and dense underwood, and occasionally near the edges of heavy 

 forest. 



