374 MR. W. V. LEGGE ON THE BIRDS OF CEYLON. [May 4, 
5. On the Breeding of certain Grallatores and Natatores in 
the S.E. of Ceylon, with Notes on the Nestling-plumages 
of the same. By W. Vincent Lezces, R.A., F.Z.S. 
[Received April 20, 1875.] 
During the prevalence of the 8S.W. monsoon in the month of June 
last year I made a trip to the S.E. coast of Ceylon, a locality but 
little known as regards its ornithology, with the view of ascertaining 
whether our Sternine, which, for the most part, leave the western 
side of the island at that season, were to be found then on the oppo- 
site and sheltered coast, or whether they were absent from that part 
also, and had migrated northwards for the purpose of breeding. 
The reward of this determination, revealed immediately on my arrival 
at my headquarters, Hambantota, certainly exceeded my expectation. 
I looked forward to seeing immature examples of many Terns, such 
as Gelochelidon anglicus, Sterna bengalensis, S. pelecanoides, &c., 
wandering about the salt lakes ; but I was not prepared to find hun- 
dreds of Sternule and Charadriina, still less Himantopus, breeding 
on the salt-pans when, as I had conceived and others with me, they 
were engaged in carrying out that responsible duty thousands of 
miles north! Nevertheless, in spite of my preconceptions, there 
they were unmistakably occupied in the business of laying eggs and 
hatching young in a temperature of 87° Fahr. (in the shade), as if 
there were no such thing in existence as a delightful Central-Asian 
climate to do all this in. And as therefore this is the first record of 
the breeding in Ceylon of these birds, I propose to give the result 
of my discoveries in the following notes. 
1. AEGIALITES CANTIANUS, Latham. 
This Sand-Plover, together with 4. mongolicus (for the most part 
in winter dress* and not breeding), was the most abundant of the 
Charadriing met with during my explorations. But before remarking 
on its nesting, I will describe the habitat of this and other Waders in 
this part of Ceylon. 
A chain of shallow lakes or salt-pans, from which the Government 
of Ceylon annually obtains quantities of salt, fringe the coast in this 
flat district for many miles to the north of Hambantota; they are 
situated at about 3 of a mile from the sea shore, being separated from 
the beach by a narrow belt of jungle through which there is no com- 
munication with the outer salt water. The salt-pans (or léwayst as 
they are termed in Ceylon) are of great extent, many of them being 
more than 10 miles in circumference; but in the hot weather they 
become partly dried up (at which time the annual salt-‘collections” 
take place), leaving around them a wide belt of foreshore consisting 
of a mixture of mud and sand, covered in many parts by tracts of 
* These must undoubtedly be birds of the previous year, not yet arrived at 
sufficient maturity to breed. 
ft Pronounced Layroy. 
