62 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



so whether the little colony raised their young and departed, or 

 breed there still, " remains an untold tale." 



315. TURTUR ORIENTALIS, Lath. 



I shot a young bird of this species from a small flock of 

 pigeons which flew over my head as I was travelling with the 

 late Dr. Gardner in the Pasdoom Corle in the month of Decem- 

 ber 1848. 



216. Chalcophaps Indicus, Linn. Nillo- or Nil- Cobey a, Cing.; 

 lit. Blue Dove. tjiiH jk 



The " Ground Dove " of Europeans seems not to extend riortli- 

 ward further than Kodally Kallu on the eastern, and Putlam on 

 the western sides ; at least 1 never met with it beyond, and the 

 Tamuls have no name for it. About Colombo and all through 

 the wooded southern and central provinces it is abundant. It is 

 generally found on the ground, walking hastily about and pick- 

 ing up seeds ; being a bold, fearless bird of great power of wing, 

 it will permit approach to v/ithin a few paces, when, with a spring 

 into the air, it will dash onwards a few dozen yards, and again 

 settle ; a renewed approach drives it further off' a second and a 

 third time, till driven beyond the range of its food, the lovely 

 bird will dart back to its old feeding ground with the rapidity 

 of thought, often brushing the intruder's person with its wings, 

 while following the tortuous narrow windings of the native 

 path. It is principally abroad morning and evening, when its 

 plaintive lowing " coo " may be heard from almost every thicket. 

 In such situations they breed, laying two oval yellowish drab- 

 coloured eggs. Axis 12 lines; diam, 8| lines. ' 



217. Pavo cristatus, Linn. Monara, Ging. Miyiif Tain. 

 io irfjf»avaan, Vort. May al, Bxxtch. i*^ ^ao ^6 km xBm3l 



Abundant in the mimosa jungles of^ thie maritime ^ districts, 

 but rare in the hills. They feed in flocks during the mornings 

 and evenings, and roost in trees, on which they may be seen at 

 daybreak expanding their tails and wings to dry. , , 



218. Gallus Stanleyi, Gray. Kadoo-koly, Mai. Welfe- 

 kukullo, Cing.; ht. Jungle Fowl. Wild-Hoen, Dutc'h. 

 Galienha di Matoe, Port. 



The Jungle fowl is abundant in all the uncultivated portions 

 of Ceylon, but particularly so in the northern and north-western 

 provinces. 



It comes out to feed morning and evening, upon the roads, 

 cultivated lands, or other open places. The cocks are generally 



