Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 57 



branchiae ; d, lower mantle ; e, e', e", arrows showing currents en- 

 tering the cavity of the mantle (I) ; the arrow (Z) also marks the 

 food-beoring currents tending towards the mouth : k, intra- bran- 

 chial or axial cavity ; g is that portion of the pallial membrane 

 which stretches from the proximal border of the upper brancliial 

 lamella to the side of tbe visceral mass, thus shutting in com- 

 pletely the intra-branchial cavity ; j, the excurrent. 

 fig. 13. Ideal transverse section of the preceding figure : a, mouth ; b, ge- 

 neral cavity of the mantle ; c, openings between the valves 

 (/,/') of the mantle ; g, membrane uniting the branchiae with the 

 mantle, and dividing the pallial chamber (c) from the intra-bran- 

 chial cavity (e) ; d, the anus. 



[To be continued.] 



V. — Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon, collected during an 

 eight years' residence in the Island. By Edgar Leopold 

 Layard, F.Z.S., C.M.E.S. &c. 



[Continued from vol. xiii. p. 453.] 



205. Treron bictncta, Jerd. Bata-goya, Cing. Patchy-prcid, 

 Mai., and Groene-duyven of the Dutch descendants ; lit. 

 Green Dove. 



Very abundant in the south of the island and in the mountain 

 zone, where it is mingled with T. Malabarica vel T. Pompadoura, 

 Gmel. Towards the extreme north it is seldom met with, though 

 I have killed a few specimens in the Patchellepally. In the 

 neighbourhood of Pt. Pedro I never saw it, its place being filled 

 by the larger T. chlorigaster, Blyth. 



This Pigeon never alights on the ground, but seeks its food, 

 which consists of berries and small fruits, on the highest trees ; 

 it always feeds in flocks, and vast numbers are killed in the 

 southern and western provinces by noticing what trees are in 

 fruit, and watching at their foot for the birds which are conti- 

 nually going and coming. It however feeds so silently and 

 moves so seldom, that it requires much skill to detect a single 

 bird out of a flock of fifty or sixty, and on the least alarm, which 

 is communicated from one to another by a plaintive whistle, 

 they all dart off the tree as if by magic ; frequently, on firing at 

 a bird which has exposed itself, I have brought down seven or 

 eight others which I could not see. 



It forms a nest in the month of May, of sticks, with a very 

 slight lining of roots, &c. in the fork of a tree, and deposits two 

 shining white eggs. Axis 14 lines; diam. 10 lines. 



206. Treron chlorigaster, Blyth. 

 Confined to the extreme north of the island, where it is very 



