SIPHIA TICKELLIJ^. 
423 
and in the Northern Province in the middle of July, so that the breeding-season of this Flycatclicr may he 
said to be May and June throughout the island. I obtained no information concerning its nest and eggs 
while in Ceylon; but on reference to ‘Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds/ I find that it nests in a niche in a 
wall or in a hole between branches of a tree at no great height from the ground. A nest taken by Miss Cock- 
burn is recorded by Mr. Hume as being made of “moss and moss-roots, the latter lorming the lining a good 
many dead leaves being incorporated in the exterior surface ; it was between 3 and 4 me ics m i lame er 
externally, and the egg-cavity was very shallow.” In shape the eggs arc said to be m.xlerate y long ovals 
somewhat obtuse at the small end ; the ground-colour is dingy greyish white, very finely freckled am mo e 
with dingy reddish brown, the markings being everywhere indistinct and feeble, lut coiicen la t < i • 
confluent towards the large end, forming a zone or irregularly defined cap. In some specimens ic mar i g 
are very closely set, so that the eggs appear to be of a pale brownish-rufous colour. Ihe aveiagi. ( imen. 
of five eggs are 0’76 inch in length by 0'56 inch in breadth ; they have, as a rule, a taint gloss. 
