NIDIFICATION 
This species breeds In Ceylon from February until May, nesting perhaps 
more in the month of March than In any other. It builds in holes In the 
trees, often choosing a coooanut palm which has been hollowed out by a Wood¬ 
pecker, and in the cavity thus formed makes a nest of grass, fibres, and 
roots. 
I once found a nest in the end of a hollow areca palm, which was the cros 
beam of a swing used by the children of the orphan school, Bonavlsta, the 
noise of whose play and mirth seemed to be viewed by the birds with the'ut¬ 
most unconcern. 
The eggs are from three to five in number; they are broad ovals, somewhat 
pointed at the smaller end, and are uniform, unspotted, pale bluish or ethe- 
real green. They vary In length from 1.07 to 1.2 inches, and In breadth 
from . Sf? to . 92 i 
Layard styles the eggs "light blue, much resembling the European Starling 
in shape, but rather darker in colour". 
The smaller bird depicted in the drawing is from a specimen shot in the 
Pasdun Korale. 
