YTJNGIPICUS GYMNOPHTELA LMOS. 
187 
the Jaffna peninsula, where it may also possibly oeenr. It is in the south-west of the island and m the 
Eastern Province where it is most abundant; in the latter part it is particularly seen about the dead trees 
standing the beds of all the newly finished tanks. In the Galle district it is a common bird m localities 
suited to its habits; and about Colombo it is not uncommon, having been procured by myself as neai that 
town as the cinnamon-gardens of Morotuwa. Layard states that he discovered 
1848. About Uswewa, near Puttalam, Mr. Parker writes me it is common ; 
Province it is sparingly distributed, as far as I have been able to trace it but, being difficult of d 
account of its small size, it may often escape observation m that jungle-clad region. occ " rh 1 
Province up to about 3000 feet. I have met with it in Pusselawa, Ndambe, Deltota, and parts of Uva, and I 
have no doubt it is to be found on the Dimbulla and Dickoya side as well. 
In India it has been found, as far as present experience proves, only m the south, and eien t e 
escaped Observation until rather recently. Jcrdon had evidently seen it, though he had not procured it before 
the publication of his work, for he remarks, at p. 279, vol. i„ “ I have reason to believe that another an 
darker-coloured species is found in the Malabar forests ; but whether this may prove identical with one of 
the Himalayan species or with the Ceylon bird in particular, I cannot now aseertam/’ 
satisfied himself of the question ; for in his supplementary notes, contained in Ibis 1872, he J rite * ***** 
Ceylon species occurs in the extreme south of Malabar and Travancore, and is the bird alluded to in the above 
mentioned paragraph. Mr. Bourdillon has procured it in the latter district, whence also Mr. Hume has 
received numerous specimens, and Mr. Eairbank obtained it in the lower Palanis. 
HaMts This little bird, which, but for the frequent utterance of its shrill little note, would often 
completely escape observation, lives generally in pairs, and frequents the uppermost branches of trees, often 
perching across them for a short space of time. I have observed it settle thus on a mere wig, and then after 
P & i TTTYi qp nflimninff branch It works much at the broken tops of small dead 
> ■“>«“* ■ P“ sc sldle d0W “ t0 “ T'Zm Z wtten wood In R™ tank 1 observed it breaking off 
siderable, and its note, which is a prolonged trill, is audible at some distance, even when uttered at tops 
of the loftiest trees. . ...... • + 
Mr. Bourdillon’s remark on this species, as observed by him in Travancore, is tha 1 i\ es 1 
of high trees, and is as difficult to observe as to shoot.” 
Nidification —In the Western Province this Woodpecker breeds in February and March, nesting in holes 
in small branches. A nest which Mr. MacVicar found in the Colombo district, near Pore was m a dead 
branch with an opening leading to it of about 1 inch in diameter. There were three young birds m it just 
hatched, and the egg-fragments were shining white. 
2 b 2 
