183 
Mr. H. Parker’s Notes from Ceylon. 
On the approach of a possible enemy, the eaglet behaved 
like other young diurnal Raptors, raising itself on its tarsus, 
extending its plumeless wings, and opening its mouth widely. 
Even a tame Tantalus, which bullied every thing else most 
unceremoniously, treated this helpless bird with respect 
after it had showed its apparent readiness to fight him. 
Polioaetus ichthyaetus (Horsf.). December (Yil.). A 
nest contained an eaglet in down and an addled egg, lying on 
a bed of fresh green leaves, which the bird was seen to renew 
daily. The egg, which is comparatively small, is a blunt 
oval, 2*51 in. by 1*98 in. It is rather rough in texture, and 
of a very pale cream-colour, almost white, with a faint gloss. 
Falco peregrinator (Sund.). A dark Falcon, with dull 
reddish underparts, which frequented Tissa for some weeks, 
was apparently this species : I was unable to approach it. 
Pal^iornis eupatrius (Linn.). Feb. (Tissa). All the nests 
examined contained three young birds. 
PaLjEORnis torquatus (Bodd.). Feb. (Tissa), April 
(Ramb.). 
PaltEOrnis cyanocephalxjs (Linn.). Feb. (Tissa). Found 
sparingly at Vil-ankulam. 
Picus mahrattensis (Lath.). May (Tissa), Feb. (Ramb.). 
Probably breeds throughout the year. 
Yungipicus gymnophthalmus (Blyth). Feb. (Tissa), July 
(Yil.). A nest of this Pigmy Woodpecker was in a hole, 
10 feet from the ground, in a dead branch three inches thick. 
The entrance was circular, and one inch in diameter. The 
cavity was excavated down the branch for 8 inches, and was 
2 in. by 2$ in. wide. Two eggs were lying on the bare 
wood. A second nest contained three eggs. They are very 
blunt ovals, with a slight gloss, and are pinkish when quite 
fresh, but become pure white^ when cleaned out. Average 
size *62 in. by *53 in. 
Brachypternus ceylonus (Forster). July (Tissa). 
Probably breeds throughout the year. 
