MEEOPS SW1NIIOII. 
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in considerable numbers, while in other districts mere stragglers are met with. In the south it is common on 
the Gindurah river, commencing above Baddegama and extending up into tbe hills of the Hinedun Pattu ; it 
likewise frequents the banks of the Kaluganga, Kelaniganga, and Maha-oya in the Western Province, and 
is found here and there through SafFragam. To the north of these localities it is located about Kurunegala, 
on the Deduru-oya, in the Puttalam district, and in isolated spots in the neighbourhood of Dambulla. 
Mr. Parker has met with it in the Anaradjapura district, and it occurs sparingly throughout the northern 
forests. I have seen it between Trincomalie and Mullaittivu, but I do not think it is to be found much to the 
north of the latter place. In the Kandyan Province it is much more common than in most parts of the low 
country, inhabiting the vale of Dumbara, Deltota, Nilambe, Maturatta, and Uva generally. It does not 
ascend to the Nuwara-Elliya plateau. 
This species is found in most of the forest-districts of India, Burmali, and Tenasserim, inhabiting the 
Andamans and extending to Pinang. Jerdon writes that it occurs in the Malabar forests and adjoining moun- 
tains, and is not uncommon in the Wynaad and other elevated wooded districts. I notice that Mr. Bourdillon 
did not procure it in the Travancore hills, nor Mr. Fairbank in the Palanis. The latter gentleman found it 
on the sides and base of the Goa and Savant-Wade hills, and records it as an inhabitant of the entire west coast 
as far north as Guzerat, whence, however, I do not observe that it has been procured. Capt. Marshall writes, 
in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1872, that it is found in the Doon and the Terai, aud along the whole of the southern skirts of 
the Himalayas to the valley of the Brahmapootra. In Chota Nagpur it is rare, Mr. Ball recording the 
occurrence of a single pair only ; in Cachar it is migratory, being common during April aud May : in Southern 
Pegu it occurs very sparingly ; Mr. Armstrong met with it there in the month of February : at Tliayetmyo 
Captain Feilden says it is rare, and in the plains of Pegu Mr. Oates did not meet with it at all. Mr. Davison 
found it throughout Northern Tenasserim, and in the Andamans he procured many specimens, meeting with 
it in Port Blair, Great and Little Cocos Islands, &c., but in the Nicobars it was not found. 
Habits . — The banks of rivers which flow through forest or the borders of juugle-begirt tanks are the 
favourite localities of this bird in the low country. In the Central Province I have seen it principally in the 
vicinity of rivers in the deep valleys leading to the Mahawelliganga, on roads leading through jungle, and in 
spots studded with high trees on the sides of steep ravines. It is usually in pairs, and is very arboreal in its 
habits, sitting on the topmost or most outstretching branches of high trees overhanging water, aud darting 
thence on its prey, much after the manner of a Flycatcher. It takes short flights, and often returns to the 
same perch again. It is a very pretty object, with its bright green plumage and glistening rufous head, as it 
darts from the fine old trees lining the forest-rivers down to the edge of the sparkling stream, and glides over 
the sandy bed, quickly catching up some passing insect. A pair may sometimes be seen seated on a dead twig, 
touching one another, so very sociable is it in its disposition. It has a soft note, differing from that of either 
of the foregoing species, which it generally utters from its perch. 
Nidification . — I found the nest of this bird on the banks of the Gindurah in the month of April. The 
hole was excavated in the soft mould near the top of the bank, went in about 2 feet, with an average diameter 
of 2 inches, and at the end widened into a cavity 4 or 5 inches in height and nearly double that in width. 
There were four young ones lying on the bare ground, which was swarming with living maggots, ants, and 
flies, brought in for their food by the old birds. The nestlings showed a marked difference in age ; two were 
perhaps not three days old, and the others had the green scapular feathers already sprouting. Layard found 
the nest iu the same month, and says the eggs are two in number. 
Mr. Davison writes that the hole is sometimes 6 feet in depth when excavated in sand, and that some turn 
off at a right angle, while others take a circular direction. The eggs are stated to vary from four to six in 
number, and to be pure white, very glossy, and nearly spherical in shape; they average 087 by 076 inch. 
The old birds are said to sit very close, allowing themselves to be dug out. 
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