376 MR. W. V. LEGGE ON THE BIRDS OF CEYLON. [May 4, 
fore, always alighting to my right hand about 30 yards from where 
I stood, These movements were performed while I was in actual 
search of the nest; when approaching the vicinity of a nest for the 
first time, however, my attention was always drawn to the bird running 
along with its wings trailing on the ground. 
2. SARCIOPHORUS MALABARICUS, Bodd. 
I include a notice of this Plover, as I found its eggs. It is resident 
in Ceylon, and in the district in question breeds on low sandy ground not 
far from the shores of the Leways. A nest I found on the Ist July was 
a slight hollow scraped in the ground and containing no materials for 
a lining. The number of eggs was four, of a rich stone-yellow, 
blotched throughout with several shades of rich sepia over a 
number of light inky spots; the markings, which were most nume- 
rous at the obtuse end, were elongated in the direction of the axis. 
In shape they were pyriform, and measured 1°46 inch by 1°12. 
The young would appear to be led away from the nest as soon as 
they are hatched, as, on resorting one morning to a nest which the 
previous evening had contained four eggs, I found but one left, while 
the young from the remaining three were nowhere to be found in the 
vicinity of the spot, all traces of broken shells having been likewise 
removed. 
3. HimMantorus CANDIDUsS, Bonn. 
This species was abundant, and is in the breeding-season one of the 
most noisy birds imaginable. Before its nest or young are ap- 
proached within a third of a mile it rises into the air, and, balancing 
itself with regular beating of the wings, utters loud cries for the 
space of several minutes, sallying off to a little distance and repeating 
its alarm-note with the view of drawing you away. It remains in the 
air thus for half an hour at a time, until it becomes a nuisance with 
its noise, keeping well out of shot all the while. I found that it 
commenced to breed in May, nesting generally on a gravelly bank on 
the shores of the Léway and near the water. The nest is merely a 
slight hollow, resembling those of other waders. The eggs, which are 
either two or three in number, are stout, pyriform in shape, and of an 
olivaceous stone-yellow ground-colour, blotched openly all over with 
large dark sepia blots, upon others of an inky grey hue. The mark- 
ings are largest at the obtuse end. Axis 1°63 inch; diameter 1°26. 
On the 28th I discovered three nestlings on the end of an embank- 
ment jutting out into one of the Léways: one of them concealed it- 
self between two stakes; and the other two took to the water, swim- 
ming with great ease and speed. The lake was not less than 200 
yards in breadth at the spot; and I watched the little fugitives across 
it. One captured nestling was placed alive ina leathern bag which 
my servant was carrying; but the mouth not being properly closed, 
in a few minutes it escaped, and ran with incredible speed along the 
embankment, dodging my servant with great adroitness, and giving 
him as much as he could do to recapture it. It has the head mot- 
tled buff and black, descending down the nape to a point; upper 
