SIGN OF THE TORTOISE. 155 
‘“‘ Brandmarks on Cattle,” by Mr. James de Alwis (see p. 60). This 
Paper deals only with such marks as vary according to the caste of 
the owners, and there is no mention of those florid designs which are 
commonly branded across the haunches of the bulls. 
Having searched in vain for any reference to an 7bba mark on 
cattle, I made independent inquiries and ascertained that it has been 
the custom to brand the sign of the tortoise on the backs of sickly 
bulls and on bulls which have been through the old operation 
of kara-ambanawa or gelding by crushing. 
In fig. 4 I give a sketch showing the position of the marks on a 
bull which was brought to the Museum for my inspection. 

Fic. 4.—A Cryton Brack BuLt with BRANDMARKS. 
In this example the mark on the haunch and side forms a loop 
over the hip joint and is connected with the ibba mark above. The 
long mark at the side with a peculiar expansion near the shoulder 
is called rena ;* above it appears the letter K, the initial of the 
owner, who was a member of the Potters’ caste whose cognizance, 
called meti-alla (clay mallet), is seen on the left fore limb. 

*I am strongly inclined to think that this is a naga or cobra derivative, 
but the men who came with the bull would only admit the term rena, 
which means a long cord or rein. 
