Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 267 



277. Hydrophastanus chirurgus, Scop. Ballal-saaru, Cing. ; 

 lit. Cat Teal (also Juana, Cing.), from their mewing cry. 



Exceedingly abundant on all tanks, and not uncommon even 

 on Colombo lake, frequenting the Lotus beds, walking on the 

 broad leaves ; they fly with great strength and facility, mounting 

 to a considerable altitude. 



278. Porzana fusca, Linn. 

 Syn. Gallinula rubiginosa, Temm. 



Korawaka, Cing. The family name of all the tribe. 



Rare : I have only seen three specimens, all found at Cotta 

 near Colombo. 



279. Porzana Ceylonica, Gmel. Nordewind, Dutch. 



These birds arrive in the south of Ceylon in great numbers in 

 the month of October and November, coming in with the first 

 northerly wind which blows (whence the Dutch name). They 

 drop exhausted, as if from a long flight, in the streets and houses, 

 and conceal themselves till recovered from their fatigues. I 

 found one in the well of my carriage, another in the folds of the 

 gig apron, and a third in a shoe under my bed ! The irides are 

 a lovely yellow and carmine blended, the yellow forming a circle 

 nearest the pupil. Some eggs were given me by a native as the 

 eggs of this bird, which were precisely similar in all respects, 

 save that of size, to those of the Gallinula phcenicura. Axis 

 13 lines, diam. 10 lines. 



280. Porzana pygm^ea, Nan. 



Very rare : a single specimen was brought to me alive from 

 Cotta. 



281. Rallus striatus, Linn. 



I received one specimen of this bird from Batticaloa, and 

 another was brought alive to me while at Pt. Pedro. I placed it 

 in my aviary, and it lived well on small sea-fish, soaked grain, 

 &c. ; it was unfortunately destroyed, along with many other 

 favourites, by rats. 



282. Rallus Indicus, Blyth, J. A. S. xviii. 



Three or four of these Rails were shot in the Jayelle paddy 

 fields near Colombo, by Lieut. Long of H.M. Ceylon Rifle Regi- 

 ment, to whom I am indebted for these and several other inter- 

 esting specimens. 



