112 Mr. E. L. T;ayard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



at my boat again ; it would not do — I must give it up — the risk 

 was too great ; the least sudden, thoughtless move might overset 

 us. I tried the outrigger with my foot, that was firm ; the 

 nigger knew his safety lay there ; " crack '' went the collecting 

 gun close to my ear, and down came a specimen of Nycticorax 

 griseusy a bird until then new to me ; this turned the scale, and 

 I ordered the boat forward ; thousands of water-birds rose at the 

 report, and soon the guns were busily employed. It was full 

 breeding season. Herons, spoonbills, ibises, pelicans, &c., &c., 

 swarmed in the air and on the trees, while their nests were so 

 crowded as to touch each other. I could only get a few of those 

 nearest the lake ; up to them the men climbed from the boat, 

 not daring to venture into the water, which was alive with alliga- 

 tors, watching for the young birds which fell from the nests ; 

 several times they snapped up the birds which I shot before I 

 could get them, though they only fell fifteen or twenty yards 

 away ; the branches of the trees were white with droppings, and 

 the water below thick and putrid ; the stench was intolerable. 

 It was with difficulty I could distinguish one nest from another, 

 so as to be certain of the parentage of the eggs ; but by remain- 

 ing quiet, I marked a bird to its nest, and then rowed up to it, 

 robbed it, and then lay-to again. The nest seemed to be used 

 year after year, if one may judge from the masses of sticks of 

 difi^erent ages of which they were composed; my guide also 

 confirmed this idea, and said the birds were not particular as to 

 the nest, one species occupying it one year, another the next 

 perhaps. 



The following are the dimensions of the eggs I obtained, 

 taken at random from what appeared the most usual form of 

 each species, though much difference exists in this : — 



Ardea alba. — Axis 2 inches 3 lines, diam. 1 inch 8 lines. 



A. intermedia. — Axis 1 inch 9 lines, diam. 1 inch 4 lines. 



A. garzetta. — Axis 1 inch lOJ lines, diam. 1 inch 5 lines. 



A. huhulcus. — Axis 1 inch 10 lines, diam. 1 inch 4 lines. 



Unfortunately most of my eggs were hard-set. I was there 

 at the beginning of May*. In shape they are equal at both 

 ends, and very rounded ; they are also all of the same pure pale 

 blue colour. 



242. Ardeola leucoptera, Bodd. Kanna koka, Cing. 



Very abundant in all marshy ground. It stands motionless 

 on the low embankments of the paddy-fields, and watches for 

 small fish, crabs, &c. When one comes within range, it darts 



* I see by an old note, that I found A. intermedia breeding in a marsh 

 at Pt. Pedro at the end of July; eggs being then fresh. 



