60 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ormtholofjy of Ceylon. 



213. Turtur Suratensis, Lath. Mani-praa, Mai.; lit. Bead- 

 Dove, from the bead-like spots on the neck. Cobeya and 

 A/loo cobeya, Cing. 



Equally abundant with the preceding in the same localities, 

 but found also in the central province and wooded portions of 

 the southern districts. In its nidification it is similar, and the 

 eggs are only distinguishable by their size, having an axis of 

 12 lines and a diam. of 9 lines. 



The flight of both these pigeons during the love season is 

 most elegant and graceful ; the male bird will at such times soar 

 away from the branch on which his " meek-eyed " partner is 

 reposing to a considerable altitude, rising almost perpendicularly 

 and clapping his wings together over his back, then opening 

 them and spreading his tail he sails downward in decreasing 

 circles and graceful curves to the object of his affections, who 

 greets him with the tenderest and blandest cooings, and while 

 he struts and pouts before her caresses his head and wings with 

 her bill. The fervour of their love being assuaged, away they 

 both soar in the fulness of their joy, to descend again in undu- 

 lating curves, crossing and recrossing each other with the most 

 easy and graceful flight, to the more sober and matter-of-fact 

 work of collecting building materials for the nest. 



214. Turtur humilis, Temm. 



The fertile portion of the Pt. Pedro district is separated from 

 the neighbouring divisions of Malagam, Jaffna, and Chavaga- 

 cherry, by a plain of several miles in breadth, in the centre of 

 which, during most parts of the year, is an expanse of shallow 

 brackish water ; in the hot season this mostly dries up, in some 

 places leaving a rich deposit of native salt (from the sale of which 

 a large portion of the revenues of the northern province is de- 

 rived) ; in others not so impregnated with the saline particles and 

 sooner dry, the natives raise crops of paddy and other gi-ain ; in 

 others (reclaimed by embanking) topes of palmirahs have been 

 planted. Far away from other cultivation, and in the centre of 

 the plain between Tunale and Warenny, stands one of thtsj topes, 

 numbering perhaps two dozen palms and margosas ; a few banian 

 trees, planted doubtless by some vagrant dove, have taken root 

 and circled some of them in their deadly embrace ; a well of 

 brackish water, a ruined temple, and a native hut, complete the 

 picture of this " oasis in the desert." Government duty led me 

 one morning to this spot soon after the waters had subsided : 

 part of my walk had been over parched mud sparkling with saline 

 incrustations, which rendered the glare almost insupportable ; at 

 one place the people with me had carried me through water up 



