Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology ofVeyton. 113 



out its neck and seizes it with its bill ; while thus engaged, 

 their dark-coloured plumes so entirely cover the white ones, that 

 the bird is almost invisible; on taking to flight, however, these 

 become apparent. In allusion to this, the Tamuls have a pro- 

 verb that, like this Koku, the deceitful man only occasionally 

 shows himself in his true colours. 



It breeds in trees in company with other herons ; its eggs are 

 the same in colour, but rounder in shape ; axis 1 inch 5 lines, 

 diam. 1 inch 2 lines. 



243. Ardetta cinnamomea, Gmel. Nati Korawaka, Cing. 



Common about the south of the island ; I have not met with 

 it northward. It frequents beds of rushes, and lights readily on 

 trees. Muttu brought in a white egg, which he stated he 

 thought belonged to the species ; he told me he saw a hen bu*d 

 rise from some sedges, and on going to the place he found a 

 rough nest of reeds and flags raised above the water, in which 

 was the egg. Its axis is 1 inch 3 lines, and diam. 13 lines. In 

 shape it resembles a Heron's egg. 



Ji 244. Ardetta flavicollis. Lath. Carawal-koka, Cing. 



'Not uncommon in the marshes about Matura; I also shot 

 three specimens on Colombo lake in March. It frequents reeds, 

 and perches readily. It is a fearless bird, permits a near ap- 

 proach and remains motionless, trusting to its sombre colour to 

 escape detection. .•., 



' ■ 245. Ardetta SINENSIS, Gmel. 



This is the smallest of our species, and is abundant on the 

 banks of all the southern rivers ; it becomes rare towards the 

 north, where it is replaced by 



■:> 246. BuTORiDEs Javanica, Horsf., 



which is very abundant. I have seen from ten to twenty spe- 

 cimens in the Fort-ditch at Jaffna, in one day. This species, by 

 the way, frequents salt water more than any other, though A. leu- 

 coptera may often be seen fishing on the muJ-banks left by the 

 retreating tide near shore. 



Dr. Kelaart includes A. thalassina, Swains., in his list, on the 

 authority of some one who forwarded him a specimen many years 

 ago from the Colombo Medical Museum, he being then in En- 

 gland. I am sure he is mistaken in either the identification or 

 locality, the latter most probably, since no dependence can be 

 placed on a museum whose labels have been shifted so often, and 

 on which so little care has been bestowed. 



Ann, ^ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. xiv. 8 



