132 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
nest, which seem to remain with their parents until the period of 
incubation again commences, when they separate to form families of 
their own.’ ” 
This does not account for the feeding of the young by more than 
the parents. 
In Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds,” in treating of 
Malacocercus canorus (Jungle Babbler), a bird presumably of similar 
habits to Malacocercus striatus * and usually laying three eggs though 
four are frequently found, he writes :— 
“ The late Mr. A. Anderson remarked : ‘ Although one of the most 
common birds in the North-West Provinces, its nidification is interest¬ 
ing, inasmuch as its nest (in common with that of Argya Malcolmii) 
is used as a nursery for the young of Hierococcyx varius (hawk 
cuckoo) and Coccystes melanoleucus (crested cuckoo). 
c On June 21 last a boy brought me a nest of this species 
containing eight eggs. Two, if not three, of this clutch are easily 
separable from the others and are unquestionably parasitical eggs. 
4 Again on July 9 I took a nest in person, which also contained 
eight eggs. Seven of these are all alike and are well incubated, while 
the eighth is quite fresh, and doubtless owes its parentage to one of 
the above-mentioned cuckoos. 
4 Strange to say, I have now another nest marked down, which 
in like manner contains the same number of callow young. It is 
just possible that the foster parents may have to perform double 
duty in this case. 
4 From the foregoing it may be inferred that Malacocercus canorus 
does occasionally lay more than four eggs, or, as the birds are 
gregarious even during the breeding season, it is possible that two 
birds may occasionally deposit eggs in the same nest.’ 
The latter explanation may be the right one, as unfortunately in 
neither of the above cases mentioned by me can I say how many 
eggs there were originally in the nests, though at the time of their 
discovery there were three and two young ones respectively only. 
March 29, 1909. V. A. JULIUS. 
6. Figure of Kapila at Isurumuniya Vihara , Anuradhapura . — 
On the right hand side of the Isurumuniya Vihara at Anuradhapura 
there is found on the face of the rock, cut in rather high relief, the 
figure of a man, seated in the maharaja Ula posture (attitude of 
44 kingly ease ”) and holding in one hand the halter of a horse, of which 
* The Common Babbler of Ceylon was known for many years as Malaco¬ 
cercus striatus and the Jungle Babbler of Bengal was Malacocercus canorus . 
The British Museum Catalogue and the “ Fauna of British India” now refer 
these species to the genus Crateropus , Swainson, 1831. 
