^Ir. E. L. Layard on the Ornithologij of Ceylon. I'ra 



pearing at a distance like a clergyman in his black garments 

 and white neckcloth. Madna-koku^ Mai. 



Common throughout the island on all the swampy lands. It 

 breeds in trees, in companies, laying several pure white chalky 

 eggs, the surface of which is curiously granulated. Axis 2 inches 

 9 bnes, diam. 1 inch 10 lines.' W^^\ P/^io^ i {^i/- m^^^ iji.iU ji^ 



;ir J rfffiib ,f>anif B .nr ^ i^ixs — ^n^ 



253. Anastomus oscitans, Bodd. Gomhellu-koka, Cing. ; lit. 

 Snail-eater and Snail-koka ; — Bellu, Gombellu and GodabeUu 

 being the Cingalese for snails of all kinds. 



Common on all marshes. At Matura I saw them in flocks of 

 several hundreds ; they were breeding in lofty trees, but I could 

 not obtain their eggs, though I offered a reward for them ; the 

 natives said they defended their nests with such pertinacity that 

 they feared to mount to them. 



254. Tantalus leucocephalus, Gmel. Z)ff^Mfi?w«, 6ing/| lit 

 Sickle-bill. Chang a vella narijj Mai. (Nary is the general 



-' Tamul name for all storks.) Brand-gaus, Dutch y lit. Brand 



a/ft sf. 1n:Si'- k v<i 



p Found in company with the three preceding species : it is not 



imcommon. >, . ,j., ;^,i, ..; ,,v, . ,. .^ . >: 



k U m " ^'>"'*^' • ^ '^'*^ V fli'^'^>W^y. Je,xitjiwaii5:r 



Sot 3-HRESKIORNlS MELANOCEPHALA, I*thj>,j^«^i5?nW^£MS&3 



g^.^, |!t. Bald-head Koku. ^, Mv,, h^l/jftnT o-r^^r 



">' Common in the northern and north-western provinces ; feed- 

 ing and breeding together in flocks ; they lay four or six eggs in 

 a large nest of sticks. The eggs are chalky-white, sparingly 

 blotched here and there with dry blood-coloured marks, thickest 

 at the obtuse end. Axis 2 in. 7 lines, diam. 1 in. 9 lines. 



256. Ibis falcinellus, Linn. Ttattu-datudua, Cing. ; lit. Black 

 Sickle-bill. Karapu cotan,'M.a\.; lit. Black Snipe. Swartz- 

 whelp, Dutch ; lit. Black Curlew. Prater wlpelp, Port. 

 " Black Curlew '' of EngUsh shooters. -'^ ''^ ^^^^^'^ 



Not uncommon about Tangalle Lake and at Pt. Pedro. It 

 was often brought into the bazaar at the latter place for sale, 

 and I found it dehcious eating. They feed just like curlews, 

 inserting their bills into the mud and water in seai'ch of- worms. 

 Aivff ;i^ni'iB3(T<|ii .^vl-jo)'^ rj-^id fno *lo jaom sib ai? .vioifi'T^im ai 

 [To be continued.] .gnrfii Qfli 



Jil i .§mJ iM:Xo:^-y\\iftH .iomO .AJAiiiaaoouaj Ar/iooiD .SQS* 



8* 



