HABITS 
This flower-pecker dwells exclusively, in high jungle, and affects the 
leaves and smaller branches of moderately high trees, but more particularly 
the luxuriant creeper *Preycinetla Augustifolia*, a species of Pandanus, 
which grows so plentifully in the Southern forests, entwining and enfolding 
the stately trunks so completely that they have, in the distance, the appear¬ 
ance of ivy clad columns. 
It associates in small flocks, which, when this plant is in fruit, may be 
seen feeding on its seeds. Its movements are most active, now hovering for 
an instant over a flower, now clinging Hit like* to the under side of some 
chosen sprig. Although it usually takes but short flights in the jungle, 
from tree to tree, its powers of locomotion are considerable, and at times 
it may be seen darting across openings in the forest from one ..ush to anow 
her. 
Its note Is a weak *tze-tze-tze*. somewhat resembling that of the Long 
Tailed Tit of Europe (Acredula Caudata) which is scarcely audible on a stor¬ 
my day amid the soughing of the wind through the forest trees. It is gen¬ 
erally uttered in concert by the flock when searching together for food. 
I observed that in the Slngha Rajah forests it frequented the flowers of 
the Bowlttiga plant (Osbeckia Virgata), but whether in search of insects or 
not I was unable to ascertain. 
The stomachs of nearly all the specimens I have procured contain succu¬ 
lent matter, evidently extracted from fruit and seed; and I therefore sus¬ 
pect that it is almost entirely fruglforous. 
It does not always confine Itself to low situations in the forests, for 
I have met r, ’ith it in flocks frequenting the tops of the loftiest trees in 
the Oodogamma timber jungles. 
NIDIFICATION 
The breeding season I imagine, must be during the South-west monsoon, for 
the organs of examples killed in both June and August testify to their nial- 
fieation being carried on during that season. It is probable that this 
bird builds somewhat similarly to its Nepaulese congener, which, says Hodg¬ 
son, *makes an ingenious pendulous nest*. 
The figures in the drawing.are those of a male and female from the south¬ 
ern forests. ■ 
