Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 269 



289. Nettapus Coromandelianus, Gmel. Mal-saaru, Cing. ; 

 lit. Flower Teal, from its beauty. Rajah-tara, Mai. ;• lit. 

 King Duck. 



Common on many of the tanks in the Wanny, particularly 

 in the neighbourhood of Anarajahpoora, where also 



290. Anas poscilorhyncha, Pennant, 

 is frequently met with, though it is one of our rarest ducks. 



291. Dendrocygna arcuata, Cuvier. Chemba-tara, Mai. ; lit. 

 Red Teal ; and Tatta-saaru, Cing. Tree Duck and Whistling 

 Teal of European sportsmen. 



Common on all fresh water throughout Ceylon, but never 

 found on the sea. They breed with us in the month of June. 



292. Dafila acuta, Linn. 



The " Pin-tail " is occasionally shot on the Jaffna estuary by 

 the native duck-shooters and brought into the bazaar for sale, 

 fetching about 3d. each. 



293. Querquedula crecca, Linn. 



and 



294. Querquedula circia, Linn. 



During the months of November, December, and January, 

 the head of the Jaffna estuary, and all the low grounds just within 

 the sea-bank (which is usually broken through at this season), 

 are covered with vast flocks of these birds, which are killed so 

 plentifully by the natives with their miserable guns and worse 

 powder, that they are sold in the bazaars as low as one halfpenny 

 each. The method adopted by the native hunter is to train one 

 of the plough buffaloes for the sport ; it is guided by means of a 

 couple of ropes attached to its horns, a slight pull at which turns 

 the animal right or left, thus enabling the shooter to keep on the 

 off-side till within shot, when he rests his rusty musket on the 

 brute's shoulder and fires. A punt and gun on these waters 

 would do wonders, and I conceive amply repay an ardent sports- 

 man the trouble and expense of reaching the spot. 



295. Fuligula rufina ? Pallas ? 



I introduce this species with a mark of doubt, because I only 

 know them through my telescope. I saw two or three pairs for 

 several weeks on a piece of brackish water between Jaffna and 

 Chavagacherry ; they would not allow me to get within 250 or 

 300 yards of them, and I therefore never managed to shoot one. 



