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



of sticks placed iu trees by the water's side. Incubation goes on 

 in May and June in Cbilaw lake ; eggs said to be from four to 

 six in number. 



238. Ardea alba, Linn. Baddadel koka, Cing. Vella-koku, 

 Mai. ; lit. White Heron. Koku is the Malabar name for all 

 the Heron family. Gans, Dutch. Garses, Port. 



239. Ardea intermedia, Wagler. Hotta-kallu-koka, Cing.; 

 lit. Black-billed Heron. 



240. Ardea garzetta, Linn. Sudu-koka, Cing.; lit. White 

 Heron. 



241. Ardea bubulcus, Savig. Gehri-koka, Cing.; lit. Cattle- 



keeper Heron. 



These Egrets are common in nearly all parts of the island, 

 except in the hills ; at Nuvvera Elia Dr. Kelaart has not met 

 with any; further down I saw them sparingly, but the low 

 country is their stronghold. A. bubulcus is sure to be found in 

 attendance on grazing cattle, ridding them of their flies, ticks, 

 &c, and the animals seem well to know their benefactors, and 

 stand quietly, while the birds jump up and peck their tonnenters 

 from their flanks and belly. All the species frequent open fields. 

 Half-way between Tangalle and Matura is a large lake, which 

 an official attendance on the Supreme Court of Judicature for- 

 tunately enabled me to visit. While the court officers halted 

 for the heat of the day, I set off on horseback from the rest- 

 house and galloped to the village, having sent forward my 

 " fidus Achates," Muttu, over-night, with orders to prepare me 

 a boat. This was in waiting when I arrived ; a canoe so narrow 

 that I could not sit in it, or rather on it with my knees together. 

 To remedy this defect, Muttu had fastened a bottomless chair 

 over it ! and had woven some coir rope across the chasm. The 

 canoe, the only one to be had, was about 12 feet long, worm- 

 eaten throughout, and one end gone entirely, its place being- 

 supplied with a piece of fresh turf, to keep out the water ! ! 

 Into this I and Muttu and a steersman got, the villagers pushed 

 us off, and when fairly afloat I found the top of the gunwale 

 about three inches from the water, and that my frail vessel 

 leaked in fifty places. From my elevated position I counted one, 

 two, three, a dozen alligators, and I anxiously inquired of my 

 black, and all but nude crew, if they were of the harmless kind. 

 A shake of the head and the word " Alliekimboola " by no means 

 reassured me; it meant they were all man-eaters ! I looked at 

 my boat, then at the loathsome reptiles floating around me, then 



