186 
Mr. H. Parker's Notes from Ceylon. 
were made inside one or two leaves, near the ground, and the 
eggs were unspotted. 
Drymceca valida (Blyth). Breeds throughout the year in 
South-east Ceylon. Two to four eggs, but usually three. 
Drymceca jerdont (Blyth). Breeds throughout the year 
in South-east Ceylon. Two to four eggs, hut usually three. 
Acrocephalus stentorius (Hemp. & Ehr.). July (Tissa). 
Permanent at Tissa-maharama. 
Dendrophila frontalis (Horsf.). April (Ramb-hara) 
Piprisoma agile (Tickell). Occurs at Bamb-hara. 
Hirundo rustica (Linn.). Arrives at Tissa from August 
80th to Sept. 12th, and leaves at the end of x4pril. These 
Swallows sleep in immense numbers in the bulrushes there, 
arriving in flocks before dusk. Before returning, they 
amuse themselves by rapid evolutions, high and low in the 
air, sometimes flying in a wide continuous band or ring over 
their sleeping-quarters. As it grows dusk they suddenly 
drop into the rushes. Probably they come from great 
distances; very few are visible in the neighbourhood during 
the day. 
Limonldromus indicus (Gm.). Recorded at Tissa on 
Sept. 20th, but it may arrive a little earlier. 
Ploceus manyar (Horsf.). Frequents reeds from Tissa to 
Udukiriwila. At the former place this Weaver-bird is now 
much more numerous than P.philippinus; but the increase 
must have occurred during the last five or six years, after the 
repair of the irrigation works, since Col. Legge did not observe 
the bird there. Probably there are two chief breeding-seasons 
(as in the case of P. philippinus ), at the times when the paddy- 
crops ripen, one in March, April, and May, and the other in 
July, August, and September; but eggs can be taken through¬ 
out most of the year. The eggs are always three in number. 
The tube of the nest appears to be added only after they are 
laid. Every Weaver-bird's arrival in the colony is received 
with great enthusiasm, exhibited by an active fluttering of 
wings and much miscellaneous noise. 
