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ZOSTEEOPS CEYLO^^EJSrSIS. 
which he had shown to Dr. Jerdon, and pointed out the differences between it and palpebrosa, and further 
remarks that it appeared close to Z, ceylonensis in size and colour, but had no more yellow on the neck than the 
ordinary species. Nothing, however, seems to have been further noted of this supposed species; and whatever it 
may be, I doubt not that it is different from our bird. 
Distribution . — This White-eye is a very abundant species in the main range, especially on the Nuwara- 
Elliva plateau j it is, however, numerous in all the circumjacent coffee-districts, down to about 3000 feet, and 
likewise in the Ilaputale, Badulla, and Madulsima ranges ; beyond the valley of Dumbara it frequents the 
upper parts of the Knuckles and the east and west Matale hills. In Maskelya it is common, and in the Peak 
forests I met with it in great abundance down to an elevation of 2000 feet. On the south side of the great 
valley of Saffragam it reappears and inhabits the coffee-districts of the Kolonna, Kukkul, and Morowak Korales, 
and ranges thence into the subsidiary hill forests between the upper part of the Gindurah river and Galle. 
Here I found it, as recorded in 'The Ibis,’’ 1874, on the summits of the Opate and Oodogamma hills, as low 
down as 1500 feet, which is the least elevation at which I have observed it. It would be interesting to know 
whether it inhabits the isolated Muneragala range, which stands out in the low country beyond the slopes 
of the Passara and Lunugala hills, and is quite disconnected from them. 
Habits.— The Hill White-eye frequents both the interior and the edges of forest, patna-jungle, underwood, 
and low bushes in open places near woods and so forth, affecting the lateral branches of tall trees, the tops of 
smaller ones, and the foliage of shrubs and undergrowth. It has no partiality for any situation in particular, 
but consorting in very large flocks, where insect life abounds, the birds composing them may be found both 
high up and low down in their leafy haunts, little parties clinging to the twigs of the smallest bushes, others 
searching the branches of sapplings, while the foliage of the monarchs of the forest high overhead teems with 
dozens more, the whole concourse moving on by twos and threes in quick succession as the leaves are cleared 
of their insect-pests and all the tempting buds eagerly nipped off. It is seen much about the edges of paths in 
the jungle ; and in such localities it exhibits an utter fearlessness of man, allowing so near an approach that I 
have often stopped to watch the movements of a pair feeding close to me, and been able to admire the handsome 
white eye-fringe as well as if I had had its tiny owner in my hand. Its principal note is a sparrow-like chirp, 
which it is particularly energetic in uttering when in large flocks. 
Mr. Holdsworth writes of it : — " As these birds are very common, and constantly flying in small parties 
from bush to bush, uttering their lively chii-p, they attract attention ; and the little White-eye is familiar to 
most Europeans who visit Nuwara Elliya. In the winter the males associate in flocks of fifteen or twenty ; and 
it is then rare to find a female in their company. I believe the latter are for the time solitary, as, with one 
exception, the numerous specimens I have shot from different flocks have proved to be males.” In the months 
of December and January I have seen hundreds in a flock in the Nuwarar-Elliya jungles. 
Nidification.—Thw, species breeds from March until May, judging from the young birds which are seen 
abroad about the latter month. Mr. Bligh found the nest in March on Catton Estate. It was built in a 
coflee-bush a few feet from the ground, and was a rather frail structure, suspended from the arms of a small 
fork formed by one bare twig crossing another. In shape it was a shallow cup, well made of small roots and 
bents, lined with hair-like tendrils of moss, and was adorned about the exterior with a few cobwebs and a little 
moss. The eggs were three in number, pointed ovals, and of a pale bluish-green ground-colour. They 
measured, on the average, 0-64 by 0-45 inch. 
On the Plate accompanying my article on Pachyglossa vincens will be found a figure of the present species. 
