HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



I own to feeling quite disappointed if I fail to see a few 

 crocodiles in and about a tank. 



I have not, however, named a tithe of the creatures 

 an observer or naturalist would discover in such places, 

 but I think I have made mention of sufficient to show 

 the stranger what he may expect to see when he visits 

 the "tank" country. 



In addition to the bird life a remote tank affords also 

 plenty of scope for big game shooting, for it will be fre- 

 quented by animals of all sorts, from a pig to an elephant, 

 but unfortunately mainly at night, though deer and 

 buffalo may be met with up to eight or nine o'clock in 

 the morning at certain seasons. 



The effect of sunrise or sunset viewed from the bank 

 of one of the large tanks forms a scene never to be for- 

 gotten, fittingly framed in the surrounding forest, and 

 forming a picture the beauty of which cannot be excelled 

 anywhere in the world. 



As far as the sportsman is concerned, apart from big 

 game, the only things worth shooting in a tank are the 

 teal, snipe, golden plover, and crocodiles, with an occa- 

 sional long shot at a pelican with a rifle. The other birds 

 are of no use except as specimens if you are a collector, 

 or for your coolies to eat. Several other kinds of teal, 

 duck, &c., may be got in the coast islands and lagoons, 

 but they do not come to the inland tanks. 



The whistling-teal (Dendrocygna javanica), length, 16.5 

 to 17.5 inches; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, lead colour. 

 Forehead, crown, hind neck, and top of back, wood- 

 brown to dark slaty on the back and wing coverts ; lower 

 hind neck and upper back broadly edged with yellow-grey 

 and reddish-yellow respectively ; face, sides of head, and 

 neck dusky whitish, passing into fine ruddy-chestnut on 



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