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



272. Rhynch^a Bengalensts, Gmel. Rajah- kas-watua, Cing. ; 

 lit. King Snipe. 



Not uncommon in all marshes ; it is a bird of passage, arriving 

 in October. Some few breed with us, the season of incubation 

 being from May to July. The nest is a simple depression in the 

 soil, and the eggs, four in number, are dark nankeen-yellow, 

 profusely blotched with very large dark dry blood-coloured 

 markings. Axis 1 inch 4 lines, diam. 1 inch. 



273. ScoLOPAX RUSTicoLA, Linn. 



The Woodcock has been shot several times at Nuwera Elia, 

 but has never fallen under the notice of either Dr. Kelaart or 

 myself in its feathers. Dr. Kelaart says that he saw " a couple 

 of birds called ' woodcocks ' at a dinner table, which tasted un- 

 commonly like the birds of that name." I heard that a speci- 

 men was preserved in the Military Medical Museum in Colombo 

 in Dr. Kinnis^ time, but, like many other specimens there, has 

 been abstracted or suffered to fall into decay. 



274. Gallinago stenura. Kas-Matua, Cing. 



The common Indian Snipe is very abundant in all parts of 

 Ceylon. They arrive in Jaffna about September. 



275. Gallinago scolopacinus, Bon. 



Not having met with this Snipe, I am obliged to quote 

 Dr. Kelaart for its identity ; he says, it " is found only in some 

 of the highland districts. We have seen a few at Nuwera Elia*.'^ 

 I shot many snipes at Gillymalle which proved to be the pre- 

 ceding species, but I see no reason why the bird should not exist 

 in the island, particularly as it is found in Calcutta : why, how- 

 ever, in this case should it be confined to the hills ? 



276. Gallinago gallinula, Linn. 



In this instance I think the " sportsman^s authority " may be 

 trusted, as there is but little fear of the " Jack " being con- 

 founded with any of the Indian Snipes. 



The late Mr. V. Burleigh of Jaffna, an ardent sportsman and 

 beautiful bird-stuffer, told me that he used frequently to meet with 

 them about Wally some years ago, but that of late he had not 

 seen any. My own testimony only reaches to a bird I saw on 

 table, luckily with both bill and legs perfect, and this I feel con- 

 vinced in my own mind was a Jack Snipe. 



* And yet he says at page 135 that he has only " sportsmen's authority " 

 for this species. There are very few sportsmen that I ever found sufficiently 

 discriminating to trust. 



