( :^6 ) 



(Phoenicojitenisroseus) IS a north-east migrant to Ceylon frequent- 

 ing the salt lakes of the Harabantota and MuUaittivu Districts. It. 

 is essentially gregarious, living and breeding in large colonies. The 

 movements of a tlock are remarkably concerted, and at the least 

 alarm they rise with one consent like a pink cloud across the 

 horizon. The three specimens exhibited are females in different 

 stages of plumage. 



The Darter {Plotus niela nog aster) is sometimes called the Snake 

 bird, on account of its long serpentine neck, which is persistently 

 kinked. The method of feeding was described by Mr. W. A. 

 Forbes as follows* : — "The darters feed entirely under water. 

 Swimming with its wings half-expanded, though locomotion is 

 effected entirely by the feet, the bird pursues its prey with a peculiar 

 darting or jerky action of the head and neck, which may be com- 

 pared to that of a man poising a spear or harpoon before throwing 

 it. Arrived within striking distance the darter suddenly trans- 

 fixes the fish on the tip of its beak with marvellous dexterity, 

 and then immediately comes to the surface, where the fish is 

 shaken off the beak, thrown upwards, and swallowed, usually head 

 first." When swimming at the surface the body is submerged, only 

 the head and neck projecting above the water. The darters are 

 common about the tanks of Ceylon. When resting on a tree the 

 wings are held expanded as shown. The stomach of this bird is 

 provided with a dense hairy plug or sieve guarding the entrance to 

 the small intestine. 



BIRD CASES IX. - XII. 



The remaining birds which are placed on exhibition are shown 

 in the recess facing the Sambur and Boar Group. In Case IX. are 

 the birds of largest bulk occurring in the Island, gigantesque Storks 

 and Herons, Spoonbills, and Pelican Ibis or Painted Stork. Case X. 

 contains Harriers (Falconidae) and Bitterns (Ardeidas, the Heron 

 family). The Malay Bittern {Gorsacliius melanolophus) is a north- 

 east migrant to Ceylon, arriving towards the end of October and 

 beginning of November, and fugitive specimens are frequently 

 captured about this time in Colombo, sometimes landing in the 

 streets of the Fort and in the ball-room of Queen's House. 



Case XI. contains Gannets or Boobies (Sulidae), oceanic birds 

 sometimes taken here, and Ibis (Ibididae), tank birds. Finally, 

 Case XII. contains Ducks and Teals (Anatidte), Terns and Gulls 

 (Laridse), Frigate birds (Fregatidfe), Cormorants and Darters 

 (Phalacrocoracidie), Pelicans (Pelecanidte). 



* \V. A. Forbes. On aome points on the Anatomy of the Indian Darter {Plofns 

 melanog aster) and on the Mechanism of the Nock in the Darters (P^o^?/.*). in con- 

 nection with their habits. P. Zool. Soc, Loudon, 1882, pp. 2UN-212. 



