76 SPOLIA ZBYLANIOA. 



Kelaart thought it probable that hedgehogs would be found 

 in Ceylon, and Jerdon (Mamni ils oC India, 1874, p. G3) 8ays that 

 E. micropus " is probably one of the two species stated to be found 

 in Ceylon." Sir Emerson Tennent never saw a specimen, but was 

 told that they occurred here. 



With all this there has never been an authentic record of a 

 hedgehog in Ceylon. Accordingly it seemed to me to be very 

 unlikely that a mammal nev^' to the Fauna of Ceylon, even one with 

 the retiring habits of the hedgehog, should turn up for the first 

 time in Wellawatta of all places. I have been told, however, that 

 hedgehogs have been seen by persons now living in Colombo. 

 Others, on the contrary, who know the country and its inhabitants 

 well, have never seen one here before. 



In fact, I supposed that the Wellawatta specimen was in all 

 probability an escaped pet, but as nobody has put in a claim for it, 

 and as it seems to differ somewhat from the South Indian species, 

 it is possible that it may be a genuine member of a Ceylonese 

 fraternity. 



It is very desirable that more material should be procured from 

 unimpeachable localities and transmitted to the Museum, either 

 as gifts, on loan, or for sale. 



The specimen referred to is still alive, and thrives very well 

 upon raw meat and cooked rice. 



A. WILLEY. 



Colombo, October ]0, 1903. 



7. Dwarf Eggs uf the Domestic Fowl. — Last December the 

 Museum received from Mr. J. C. Dunbar of Kotagala eight small 

 eggs out of a clutch of eleven which had been laid by an ordinary 

 village fowl. Upon further inquiry being made it was ascertained 

 that the hen had been acquired in a batch of village fowls about 

 four months i)reviously. The dwarf eggs were the first she had 

 laid during that time, and it was said that she had never laid a 

 normal egg. During the following week or so the hen laid five 

 more dwarf eggs and was then allowed io sit upon a barxdi of 

 normal eggs. 



In every respect, except in the matter of oviposition, the fowl's 

 behaviour was perfectly correct. In February of this year Mr. 

 Dunbar kindly presented her to the Museum for investigation. 

 She was kept here for some weeks, and her portrait was taken. 



From February to April the hen continued to lay dwarf eggs at 

 varying intervals and of varying shapes and sizes to the number of 

 nineteen. All of these eggs were yolkless, containing albumen 



