part of forest and cheena woods, likewise frequents scrub or overgrown land 
in the vicinity of native cottages* It dwells entirely in the seclusion 
of such vegetation, feeding near the ground in dense thickets, or picking up 
beetles and insects from amongst decaying herbage; it rarely shews itself in 
the open except to flit across a jungle road or forest path* It is usually 
found in pairs, except after breeding, when it combines with its newly rear¬ 
ed family to form a little troop. 
Its note, which is one of the characteristic sonnds of the Ceylon jungles 
is a persistently repeated whistle, resembling the words "To meet you". 
This Is varied, on the part of the male in the breeding season, by a combi¬ 
nation of ascending and descending bars, which form a pleasant little warble 
In the short note there Is a peculiar intonation which partakes or the 
power of ventriloquism, and which renders, at times, the determining of the 
bird’s position a matter of difficulty* 
The Whistling Quaker Thrush Is especially noi,sy in wet weather, and du¬ 
ring the breeding season utters a low purr when its nest is approached. At 
this period I have observed, a pair seated on a low branch, bowing and cour¬ 
tesy ing to each other, with their tails carried erect, and appearing to be 
most intent on rendering themselves mutually attractive. 
The stomach In this species is muscular, and I have found large beetles 
therein, proving Its digestive powers .to be considerable. 
NIDIFICATION 
The nest of this species is exceedingly difficult to find, and scarcely 
anything is known of its nidificatlon. Mr Bligh succeeded in finding it in 
Haputale at an elevation of about 5500 feet. It was placed in a bramble 
about three feet from the ground, find was cup shaped, loosely constructed of 
moss and leaves; it contained three young. 
Mr Bligh writes me concerning a brood of four or five young which he fours! 
in the Central Province; they had just left the nest and were frequenting 
some thick brambles, in which he dhoght several of them with ease. The pa¬ 
rent birds, he remarks, "seemed as If they would have died of distress, try¬ 
ing to draw me away by tumbling arid fluttering about on the ground as if 
badly wounded, and nearly buffeting me when I had the young in ray hand". 
The figure of the bird In the drawing accompanying this article is that 
of a dark coloured Western Province specimen, which was shot in the three 
Korales. 
