Mr, W. Clark on the Rissoa rubra. 107 



and mingled with a tremulous cry. It breeds in February, nest- 

 ling in hollow trees, and laying from two to four roundish white 

 €ggs. 



29. Ketupa Ceylonensis, Gmel. Baccamooney, Cing. 

 Oomuttanloovey , Mai. 

 These large owls are common through the island, both in the 

 interior and on the sea-coast. They feed much upon fish, which 

 they catch in the shallow moimtain rivulets dm-ing moonlight 

 nights. I have several times had them alive, and they devoured 

 fish with avidity. When alarmed during the day, they utter a 

 loud hissing note subsiding into a low growl ; during this time 

 the throat is much inflated at the white spot. I hear that they 

 breed in hollow trees and clefts of rock, laying two large white 



eggs. 



30. Syrnium Indrani, Gray. Oolama, Cing. 



Inhabits dense and lonely jungles, and utters the most doleful 

 cries, which the natives (a very superstitious race) consider the 

 sure tokens of approaching evil. 



31. Strix Javanica, Gmel. 



The only locality in Ceylon for this bird is the pretty fort of 

 Jaffna. Here several pairs may be nightly seen perched on the 

 gables of the old Dutch church, or on the dilapidated bastions 

 of the walls. They feed much on fish, which they capture in 

 the shallow water of the estuary commanded by the fort. 



[To be continued.] 



XI. — On the Rissoa rubra. By William Clark, Esq. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, Exmouth, June 26, 1853. 



It is stated in a paper of mine on the Rissoa in the ' Annals,' 

 vol. X. p. 262. N. S., "that the jR. rubra is veiy common alive 

 in certain localities, and that I have never seen the animal, and 

 can scarcely believe it to be a tnie Rissoa, as the semitestaceous 

 operculum and its apophysis are more like those of a Chem- 

 nitzia." 



This view is corroborated by the reception this day, by favour 

 of Mr. Bai-lee, of many lively specimens sent from Penzance in 

 a bottle of sea-water by post, which has enabled me to get notes 

 of all the organs. I am not aware that this curious, I may 

 almost say, anomalous species, has ever been mentioned beyond 

 a very slight notice by one or two authors, which in most respects 



8* 



