Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 271 



306. Seena aurantia, Gray. 



307. Sterna Javanica, Horsf. 



308. Sternula minuta, Linn. 



309. Onychoprion anasth,etus, Scop. 



The nine species here enumerated are found pretty generally 

 along our sea- border and on the lakes, estuaries, and salt lee- 

 ways. I could on any evening shoot six or eight specimens of 

 Sy. Casjnus, either off Wally or Puthencally Bridges, as they flew 

 outwards to sea, and the same in the morning as they returned 

 inland. G. Anglicus and H. Indica are common all round the 

 island. Of Th. cristatus I obtained one specimen at Pt. Pedro. 

 Th. Bengalensis and S. aurantia pass in vast flights westward 

 along the coral-reefs on the north of Ceylon during the months 

 of May and June. St. Javanica is common even on the lakes at 

 Anarajahpoora, where also St. minuta is often seen, though the 

 latter is most common on tanks and still waters near the sea- 

 shore ; these two species hunt much over dry paddy fields, 

 picking up insects of all kinds, small crabs, &c. Ony. anasthcetus 

 is very rare ; I obtained three specimens about ten miles out at 

 sea, off Pt. Pedro, when on a dredging excursion. 



310. Atagen ARIEL. 



Mr. Brodie of the Ceylon Civil Service first shot this species 

 on Calpentyn lake, and I subsequently saw two, which were 

 killed from the Light-house in Colombo in February 1853 ; one 

 passed into my possession, the other into the Museum of the 

 Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. I frequently saw 

 them during the month flying at immense altitudes over the 

 coast. 



311. Plotus melanogaster, Gmel. Beli Kawa, Cing. 

 Common on all good-sized tanks : breeds at the Tangalle lake. 



312. Pelecanus Philippensis, Gmel. Koolookedai, Mai. 



Not unfrequently met with in small flocks on the sea-coast 

 upon estuaries and still water. I am told they breed near Mul- 

 letivoe, which is a splendid locality for all these tribes. 



313. Graculus Sinensis, Shaw. 



I have seen a few of these birds on the fishing kraals in the 

 Jaffna estuary, in company with the much commoner 



