23. 
HV P 0 T H Y M I S ,C E Y L 0 N E N S I S 
(THE CEYLONESE AZURE FLYCATCHER) 
ADULT MALE AND FEMALE 
Length 6 to 6.2 Inches; wing 2.6 to 2.8; tall 2.76; tarsus .6; middle toe 
and claw .5; bill to gape .6 to .7. 
DISTRIBUTION 
This pretty blue flycatcher is generally dispersed throughout the jungles 
and forests of the interior, not ranging much above the lower hill districts 
except perhaps, in Uva and in the ranges to the North-east of Kandy, where I 
have seen it between 2000 and 3000 feet. It is common enough in its syl¬ 
van haunts; but I doubt If It is a familiar bird to any but those who fre¬ 
quent the jungles. In the low thorny scrub bounding the sea-board on the 
dry portions of the island it is not found, nor did I observe it anywhere in 
the Jaffna peninsula. in the Western Province it may be seen close to the 
shore, frequenting the woods at the back of the cocoanul plantations whicn 
border the sea, while further Inland, as well as in the South-west hill re¬ 
gion, It Is tolerably numerous. 
HABITS 
This_species is found either singly or in pairs, affecting forests, shady 
jungles, and bamboo thickets, and is also met with in small groves, or de¬ 
tached woods in cultivated districts. It usually keeps to underwood or 
dwells in the lower branches of forest trees, generally selecting those 
spots which are enlivened by a gleam of sunshine, where it may be seen active 
ly darting on small flies or insects, while it utters its sharp little note 
resembling the word ff tchreet\ After the breeding season the young birds 
associate in small troops; and at such times I have noticed, them following 
each other about among.the upper branches of tall trees, 
NIDIFICATION 
In the Western Province this flycatcher breeds from April to July, or du¬ 
ring the South-west monsoon rains, building a beautiful little nest in the 
fork of a sapling or shrub at abbot four feet from the ground; it is const¬ 
ructed of moss and fine strips of bark, very neatly finished off at the edg§ 
decorated with cobwebs on the exterior, and lined with very fine creeper 
tendrils, the interior forming a deep cup of about one inch and three quar¬ 
ters in diameter. 
The eggs are either two or three, round in form of a buff white ground go- 
