64 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XII. 



Province of Sabaragamuwa, I had the good fortune to be able 

 to watch the nesting of a pair of these woodpeckers. The 

 nest was situated in the trunk of a dead del tree, at a height 

 of about 20 ft. from the ground. The opening into the nest 

 faced about south, and entered the stem to a depth of 4J- in., 

 when its course was directed at right angles downwards to 

 about 20 in. below the level of the entrance. The hole made 

 was nearly circular throughout its entire distance, widening 

 slightly as it became deeper. The bottom of the nest upon 

 which the eggs were placed was covered with wood chips, 

 evidently part of the debris formed in excavating the passage 

 and hollowing out wood for the nest. 



The eggs were four in number, of a pure white colour, and 

 measured as follows : 1*08 in. by -76 in. to 1*10 in. by -77 in., 

 and in shape are very nearly elliptical. 



Both birds were constantly in charge, so to speak, of the 

 nest, but upon my taking the eggs they appeared to abandon 

 the spot altogether, for though I often visited the tree after- 

 wards I saw neither one or other of these woodpeckers in 

 the neighbourhood. 



I was also fortunate enough to get this year the egg of the 

 Ceylon hornbill, the nest having been found by Mr. G. W. 

 Jenkins of " Carney " estate, in Gilimale, from whom I obtained 

 the following interesting particulars : — The nest was found on 

 March 10 in an alubo tree, placed about 30 ft. from th© 

 ground. The female, which Mr. Jenkins also sent me with 

 the egg, was " mudded " into the nest, the aperture having been 

 reduced from 8J in. to 3 in. in diameter, or a thickness of 

 2f in. averagely. The nest inside the tree measured 18 in. 

 by 12 in., lined over the bottom with small sticks and twigs. 

 The eggs were two in number, but being in an advanced 

 stage towards hatching, one was unfortunately broken in 

 cleaning. The other measures 1*80 in. by 1*30 in., making a 

 fairly broad oval in shape. In colour the egg is pale white, 

 free of any gloss, and chalky in texture, almost rough to the 

 touch over the " broad " end. The shell is thick, and of a 

 darker colour inside than out. 



