226 Mr. E. L. Layard's Rambles in Ceylon. 



From a branch by the road-side I picked a specimen of the lovely 

 little Bulimus Mavortius, which apparently frequents trees and bushes. 

 Our indigenous Bulimi are as follows : — 



Bulimus punctatus, Anton, common at Jaffna, Trincomalee, and 

 Hambantotte. It feeds on the Mimosa common in the jungles, and 

 in Jaffna is found in vast quantities about the walls of the old fort, 

 under stones, in company with the larger form B. pattens. This 

 species also is abundant about the forts of Colombo and Caltura, at 

 the roots of grasses. Bulimus ceylanicus, Pfr., is found about the 

 mountain zone in company with Bulimus albizonatus, and is, I feel 

 nearly sure, but a variety of it ; the mollusc is of a beautiful green 

 colour, and when alive shines through the shell ; I am told they feed 

 much on the coffee-bushes. Bulimus Mavortius has, as yet, been 

 received only from the jungles ; it feeds on the Mimosa and other 

 trees. I have not observed it in the mountains, but have received it 

 from the western coast about Puttam. Bulimus trifasciatus I shoidd 

 also term a low-country species ; I have taken it about Galle and 

 Matura, and it lies dead in abundance along this road. These, with 

 the exception of Bulimus j^attefis, are essentially tree species. Bu- 

 limus pallens is a ground species ; so also is Bulimus indicus, which 

 is seldom found but under stones and decaying logs of wood, in very 

 moist situations. The stones about wells are favourite resorts, some- 

 times also the roots of grasses about old buildings ; it is local and 

 singularly abundant. The animal is of a brilliant yellow colour. The 

 epiphragm of all these species is white. — The large wood-pigeon, Car- 

 pophaga pusilla of Blyth, abounds, its plaintive notes being heard 

 from the summit of the highest trees. While journeying on I was 

 startled by a curious barking that reverberated through the woods : a 

 low "hiss" from Q. brought me to a stand, and he pronounced the 

 word " Pullettymaan." Now this was an animal I much desired to 

 see, being one of the two deer, of which, though I had certain infor- 

 mation, I had not yet been able to procure for identification. Slipping 

 noiselessly from my saddle, I crept towards where the sound, which 

 seemed however to come from all quarters, was now most frequent ; 

 but an unlucky twig made a slight snap, and away bounded the timid 

 animal from a point where I least expected it. Q. laughed at my 

 discomfiture, but consoled me by vouching to its powers of ventri- 

 loquism, and promised me a skin, should he fall in with one, adding 

 that I should most likely see them at early dawn on the great centre 

 road feeding in the open places. We reached our destination early ; 

 but before doing so, Q.'s warning against riding along the raised 

 baulks in the paddy fields was shown to be a correct one. We were 

 crossing the last field leading into the village, I, as usual, riding along 

 the ridges, when suddenly a weak spot gave way, my horse fell 

 heavily on his head and rolled completely over, flinging me and my 

 gun several feet before him ; luckily I was the foremost of the party, 

 or the contents of my gun would have lodged in somebody's legs ; as 

 it chanced, it was expended harmlessly on the air, and as no hurt 

 happened, either to horse or man, we enjoyed a hearty laugh at my 

 mishap, and then galloped into the village. After examining the 



