450 
TURDUS KINNISI. 
Distribution . — The Blackbird of Ceylon^ which bears a great resemblance to our home favourite^ is an 
inhabitant of the entire hill portion of the Kandyan Province, from the loftiest regions down to an elevation 
of between 2500 and 3000 feet ; it is, I am given to understand, likewise found on the uppermost parts of the 
Morowak and Kolonna Korales, but I have not seen specimens myself from that district. It is very numerous 
at the Horton Plains, in the wilderness of the Peak, the Nuwara-Elliya district, and in all the forests of the 
main range. In Haputalc, on Namooni-kuli hills, the Knuckles, and all other ranges where any considerable 
amount of forest has escaped the woodman’s axe it is common. On isolated hills, such as the Allegalla peak, 
1 have found it ; but it is rare in such localities. In many of the coffee-districts intersected with wooded 
patnas, which furnish it with a stronghold, it is a familiar bird and in the north-east monsoon season appears 
about the residences of the planters. 
Habits. The presence of this songster at Nuwara Elliya is not without interest to the English colonist ; 
its lively though somewhat subdued matutinal song recalls home recollections and memories of the lovely 
spring time in England when all nature seems awakened after the slumbers of -winter. It frequents a variety 
of situations, passing, however, most of its existence in thick undergrowth, particularly the nilloo and elephant- 
grass scrub. It strays out of the forest into detached groves, copses, umbrageous coffee, and about Nuwara 
Elliya resorts even to the gardens and plantations surrounding the villas of the residents. It is a very shy bird, 
^ceding entirely in the thick cover of the jungle until evening, when the departing sun illumines the borders 
of the forest j it then sallies out, mounting high into trees and pouring out its song, which is neither so loud 
nor so full in tone as that of its English congener; it then proceeds by short flights from tree to tree, utterinu- 
its call-note of duck-onk until it finds its way hack to its accustomed roosting-place. At the break of day it is 
again abroad, singing before sunrise, and shortly after it retires into neighbouring thickets for the entire day. 
■\Vhile searching for its food it gives vent to a very low chirp, which one would imagine came from the throat k 
the smallest bird ; and when alarmed by the sound of an approaching footstep takes refuge into the depths of 
the scrub with quick hoppings along the ground or short flights from branch to branch. It is very partial to 
some fruits in the forest, collecting in considerable flocks in the loftiest trees ; and while some greedily pluck 
the berries from the top branches, others remain in the underwood beneath and reap a harvest on those that fall. 
In spite of its fruit-eating propensities, however, it is highly insectivorous in diet ; and I have seen it scratching 
in manure at the edge of forest-paths. Layard writes that Mr. Mitford, of the Ceylon Civil Service, shot one 
of these birds (the only animal life he saw there) at the very summit of Adam’s Peak, feeding on the crumbs 
of rice thrown out by the pilgrims as an offering to Buddha. Mr. Eorbes Laurie writes me that it has the 
power of diminishing the tone of its voice until its notes have the effect of coming from a distance. 
Nidification.—T\ie Blackbird breeds from April until June, building in a niche of a trunk, on a stump, 
or in the forked branch of a low tree ; its nest is composed of grass, moss, and roots, strengthened wdtli a few 
twigs, and is somewhat massive in structure, the interior being a deep cup lined with fine roots, most probably 
undeilaid by a foundation of mud, as in the nests of other species. The eggs are four in number, of a pale 
green ground-colour, blotched evenly all over with faded reddish brown and light umber, overlying smaller 
reddish -grey spots. Dimensions 1-05 by 0'82inch. 
In the matter of situation it has, however, a variety of choice, sometimes nesting, according to 
]\Ir. Iloldsworth, in out-huildings at Nuwara Elliya, and occasionally choosing the side of a rock, as will be 
seen from the following experience of Mr. Bligh. He writes me : — “ I have often found this charming bird’s 
nest ; on one occasion it proved to be a strange structure, composed of seven distinct nests, which were fixed 
among the roots of a bush which grew out of a perpendicular rock above the “ Swallows’ Cave ” at Dambetenne ; 
it, contained three young ones. The situation no doubt proving very safe and suitable, induced perhaps the 
same pair to build successively on the old nests, all of which still presented a fresh green appearance, from 
the moss not readily drying in such a moist climate. Usually the nest is very like the English Blackbird’s 
but smaller; and the same may be said of the eggs, except that they arc rather rounder. These birds nest 
regularly near the Catton bungalow ; and directly this important business is over they retire to the higher jungle, 
assembling in more or less numerous parties. I have seen as many as forty or fifty at the same time in what 
might be termed scattered company ; but this is a rare habit, and only to be accounted for by the abundance of 
favourite food in a particular locality.” 
