Ml-. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 107 



220. Francolinus Ponticerianus, Gmel. Cowdari, Mai. 

 Oussa-watua, Cing. 



Not uncommon on sandy soils dotted with jungle, such as ex- 

 tends from Chilaw northward round to Tangalle ; in the interior 

 and about Colombo it is not found. In the northern province 

 it is very abundant, and nourishes well on the islands in the 

 Jaffna estuary, on which I have frequently had excellent sport. 

 They frequent the branches of thick trees or bushes, and perch 

 very readily. They breed twice a year, in August and December 

 (at least I have taken fresh eggs in both these months), laying 

 from eight to sixteen eggs. Axis 15 lines, diam. 12 lines. In 

 shape like those of the European bird, but more yellow in 

 colour, in a hollow in the bottom of a bush or tuft of grass, 

 making little or no nest. 



221. Perdicula argoondah, Sykes. 



I have only seen one pair of these elegant little partridges ; 

 they were caught alive at Cotta, near Colombo. I have an egg 

 which can only belong to this bird, also found in the same loca- 

 lity. Axis 12 lines, diam. 9 lines. It precisely resembles a 

 diminutive partridge egg. 



222. Coturnix Chinensis, Linn. Wenella-watua, Cing. 



This small and elegantly coloured Quail is rather common in 

 the grass and paddy fields in the neighbourhood of Galle and 

 Matura; elsewhere I have not met with it, save once in the 

 Pasdoom corle. It flies together in coveys of ten or fourteen, 

 and from its diminutive size and rapid motion is hard to 

 shoot ; when once shot at, it is very difficult to flush again, 

 skulking among the tufts of grass, and suffering itself to be 

 caught by the hand. I tried to keep them in confinement, but 

 they appear of untameable nature, and on the least alarm 

 spring upwards with such force as to dash their heads in pieces 

 against the roof of their cage. 



223. Titrnix ocellatus, Scop., var. Taigoor, Sykes. Watua, 

 Cing. Ccidey, Mai. 



Common in the south ; the variety which Mr. Blyth desig- 

 nates as T. Bengalensis is abundant in the north, to the exclusion 

 of the other. There does not appear to be any difference in the 

 eggs, which are oblong-ovate, of a yellowish green colour, closely 

 mottled with blackish spots, which grow larger towards the ob- 

 tuse end, in some instances running into each other. Axis 11 

 lines, diam. 8 lines. The nest, if nest it can be called, is com- 

 posed of a few bents of grass dropped into a depression in the 



