PYCNONOTUS h.p:moeehous. 
483 
feathers, like the back; and the whole nape and back are much paler than P. hcemorrhous, the cap alone being 
black;” wing 3-6 to 3-7 {Hume). P. frfricwjjilZws may be said, writes Mr. Hume, to be like P. nigropileus, h\it 
with the throat, ear-corerts, breast, and abdomen uniform very pale greyish whity brown. 
Distribution . — This very common bird is found abundantly throughout the whole of the island to a general 
altitude of about 3500 feet, and in Uva ranges to about 5900 feet, its highest point being the neighbourhood 
of Hakgala, to Avhich it e.\tends from the Fort-MacDonald patnas, a portion of the Kandyan Province where 
many low-country birds are located. It is most numerous in open and cultivated districts, particularly in the 
west and south of the island and in the maritime portions of the eastern and northern divisions. In the 
extensive forests of the east and north-central portions it inhabits chiefly those localities which have been 
cleared and are now open or covered with low jungle ; but in the depths of the woods it is less frequent than 
the White- eyebrowed Bulbul. In Dumbara and other wide valleys of the Central Province it is almost as 
common as in the low country, but it does not range so high on the Eambodde side as in Uva. Neither 
Kelaart nor Mr. Iloldsworth record it from Nuwara Elliya, nor have I myself observed it there : that it should 
not occur even as a straggler or occasional visitant in the gardens of the residents, while it is not uiifrequcnt 
just lower down the valley at Hakgala, is perhaps a proof that it is not able to withstand the frost and cold at 
nights on the plain. 
Of this Bulbul J erdon says that it is one of the most common and generally-spread birds in the south of 
India, extending throughout the southern part of the peninsula to the Nerbudda river, and beyond it appa- 
rently to the north-west. It ascends the Nilghiris to about GOOD feet, and it is, says Dr. Fairbank, found at 
the top of the Palanis, though it is more abundant at the bottom and on the adjacent plains ; in the Khandala 
district it is an inhabitant of the slopes of the hills, as w'eU as the neighbouring portion of the Deccan. To 
the north-west it extends as far as Sindh, to the avifauna of which province IMr. Blanford has recently added 
it, stating that it is found in the deserts of Umarkot. Captain Butler remai’ks that it is found all over the 
hills and plains of Northern Guzerat, to which Mr. Hume adds, “ Common at Sambhur and in the eastern 
portions of Jodhpoor, also in Cutch and Kattiawar. In Western Jodhpoor it occurs for the most part only in 
the rains.'’'’ In Bengal it is replaced by the large and allied species P. pygeeus, which extends eastw'ards into 
Burmah. 
Habits . — The Madras Bulbul affects gardens, compounds, cinnamon-plantations, the vicinity of roads, low' 
jungle, open scrubby land, and the edges of forest. It is a fearless and very sprightly bird, most active and 
animated in its manners, erecting its conspicuous crest to full height as it sits on the top of a bush chirping to 
its companions. It locates itself in close pi’oximity to houses, and not unfrequently builds its nest in verandahs, 
and is consequently a universal favourite with Europeans, who rate its attempts at singing so highly that it is 
styled by many the “ Ceylon Nightingale ■’■’ ! As a matter of fact, however, its notes have but little music in 
them ; but it is constantly uttering its quick chirruping warble, which, in the breeding-season, is to a certain 
extent more melodious than at other times. Its food consists of insects, as well as fruit and seeds of all 
kinds, the berry of the Lantana-\i\a.i\i being a favourite diet, a fact which conduces to the propagation and 
spreading of this horticultural pest. In the evening little parties of this Bulbul assemble, and after a great 
deal of excitement and chattering they choose a roosting-pilacc in some thick bush or umbrageous shrub. 
J erdon remarks, in his ‘ Birds of India,’ that in the Carnatic it is kept for fighting, and that it seizes its 
antagonist by the red feathers, attempting to pull them out. It is said to imitate the notes of other birds 
when caged. I am not aware that this habit has been much noticed in Ceylon ; but it is a great favourite as 
a caged bird wdth the natives, becoming excessively tame, and allowing itself to be carried about by hand. 
It is, according to the author of the ‘ Birds of India,’ found in that country usually in pairs or in small 
families, flying briskly about, restless and inquisitive, feeding chiefly on fruits, but occasionally descending to 
the ground, and even hopping a step or two and picking up insects ; “ it destroys various buds and blossoms, 
and is very destructive to peas, strawberries, brazil-cherries {Phy satis peruviana), and other soft fruit.” 
Nidification . — In the western and southern portions of the island this bird breeds, as a rule, between 
January and May, and on the eastern side during the north-east rains at the end of the year. It appears, 
3q2 
