fcOSTEROPS.—iXTJLtlS. 145

lined with very fine grass and hair. The eggs are two in number,
of a roundish ova] shape, and a pale greenish-blue colour."

Finally Colonel Legge informs us that this species breeds in
Ceylon in June, July, and August.

The eggs are somewhat lengthened ovals (occasionally rather
broader), and a good deal pointed towards the small end.
The shell is very fine but almost glossless ; here and there a some-
what more glossy egg is met with. They are normally of a uni-
form very pale blue or greenish blue, without any markings what-
soever, but once in a way an egg is seen characterized by a cap or
zone of a somewhat purer and deeper blue. Abnormally large
and small specimens are common. They vary in length from 0*53
to O7, and in breadth from 0*42 to 0*58 ; but the average of thirty-
eight eggs is 0*62 by 0-47, and the great majority of the eggs are
really about this size.

229. Zosterops ceylonensis, Holdsworth. The Ceylon White-eije.
Zosterops ceylonensis, Holdsw., Hume, Cat. no. 631 bis.

Colonel Legge, referring to the nidification of the Ceylon "White-
eye, says :—" This species breeds from March until May, judging
from the young birds which are seen abroad about the latter month.
Mr. Bligh found the nest in March on Catton Estate. It was
built in a coffee-bush a few feet from the ground, and was a rather
frail structure, suspended from the arms of a small fork formed by
one bare twig crossing another. In shape it was a shallow cup,
well made of small roots and bents, lined with hair-like tendrils of
moss, and was adorned about the exterior with a few cobwebs and
a little moss. The eggs were three in number, pointed ovals, and
of a pale bluish-green ground-colour. They measured, on the
average, '64 by *45 inch."

231. Ixulus occipitalis (BL), The Chestnut-headed Luulus*

Ixulus occipitalis (!&•), Jerd. B. 2nd. ii, p. 259 j Hume, Rough Draft
N. 8f £. no. 624.

A nest of this species, taken by Mr. G-ammie out of a small tree
below Eungbee, at an elevation of about 3000 feet, was a small,
somewhat shallow cup, composed almost entirely of very fine moss-
roots, but with a little moss incorporated in the outer surface.
Externally the nest was about 3^ inches in diameter and 2 inches
in height. The egg-cavity was about 2| inches by barely 1^ inch.
This nest was found on the 17th June and contained three hard-
set eggs, wJiicJi were thrown away !

232. Ixulus flavicollis (Hodgs.). The Yellow-naped Ixulus.

Ixulus flavicollis (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 259 : Hume, Rough
Draft N. $ E. no. 623.

VOL. I. 10