which is chiefly insectivorous; small seeds are sometimes devoured by it,"' 
and I have found snails of some little size and also minute ammonites in its 
stomach. I have occasionally seen small parties In the topmost boughs of 
large trees, but to ascend thither is not its usual habit, and in such cases 
it is probably enticed from the foliage beneath by the presence of other 
birds. Towards Its own kin it is extremely sociable, generally living in 
close fellowship, particularly in the nesting time. it is rarely disturbed 
without the little call note B whee, whee* being speedily heard, and Us com¬ 
panion is seen flying across the jungle path or other spot in search of it. 
NIDIFICATION 
This Bulbul breeds in the Southern and Central Portions of the island 
from April to September, probably rearing two broods. In the Kandyan Pro¬ 
vince Mr Bligh has found the eggs in the former, and I myself in the latter 
month. It usually builds in the fork of a low tree or bush near the ground 
and sometimes even on a dead stump. I have taken the nest fixed in a hori¬ 
zontal bifurcation of a small branch which overhung a mountain stream. It 
was a loosely constructed fabric, but tolerably substantial notwithstanding, 
made in a cup shape of fine roots, grass, bents, and very small twigs, among 
which were fixed some dead leaves, the interior being lined with fine grass¬ 
es. The eggs were two in number, and the diameter of the nest inside was 
an inch and three quarters by an inch and a quarter in depth. 
In other nests brought to my notice there were three eggs; one of tnese 
was constructed of grass and creeper tendrils, and placed on a low stump 
amid some bushes. In the Southern Province I have received the eggs in the 
beginning of April. Mr Bligh describes to me a nest which he found in Hapu- 
tale on the top of an Isolated bush about six feet from the ground. “It 
was* he says, “barely daylight when it was discovered, and the old oird was 
on the nest; this I took, and about half an hour afterwards, on returning to 
the spot, found the bereaved pair sitting by each other, their sides touch¬ 
ing, close to the former position of the nest, and though I approached with¬ 
in two yards of them, they sat still wearing the most dejected aspect - as 
well they might - causing me much regret at having moved it, although I was 
under the impression that it was the first nest of this species ever disco¬ 
ver ed ,,r . 
It was, he remarks, a simple but very strong little structure for the ma¬ 
terials used; the outside was principally composed of small dead leaves with 
rough surfaces, next to which was a thin weaving of a kind of flower stalk 
which partly entwined the leaves; these stalks were a few inenes in lengtn, 
with a rough exterior, and of the thickness o t very thin twine; to the mi- 
