on a Ramble in Ceylon.



125



Bitterns ( ArcLetta sinensis ) and Chestnut Bitterns (Ardelta cinna-

momea ) are also plentiful, and a single Purple Heron ( Ardea

manillensis') was flushed by our Cingalese attendant. On a

broken bough overhanging a tank a pair of White-breasted King¬

fishers (. Halcyon smyrnensis') were on the look out for their

breakfast, and a little Blue Kingfisher ( Alr.edo ispida ) was hover¬

ing over the water, his plumage glistening in the sunshine like

some strange jewel. As we leave the paddy swamp and strike a

native track into the bush, a Red-vented Bulbul (Molpastes

hcemorrhous') flits across our path uttering shrill notes of alarm,

and after a short search a fully fledged young bird is discovered.

The bait is tempting and a hot chase ensues, which ends un¬

successfully from our point of view. Violent exercise in a

temperature of one hundred and something in the shade is not

conducive to good temper ; so smothered in insects of all sorts

and descriptions and prostrated by the heat, we call a halt and

seek solace in a whiff of tobacco. A few moments later we hear

again the musical notes of M. hcemorrhous and the plaintiff call

of their hungry offspring, and are witness to an exciting chase

by both old birds of a particularly fine example of Pompeoptera

criton*, a most beautiful butterfly of black and golden hue. For

perhaps thirty seconds the issue hangs in the balance, but the

combined efforts of the parent birds are eventually successful and

P. criton is brought fluttering to the ground. But such a large

and luscious mouthful is not to be disposed of in a moment, and

ere the coup-de-grace is administered the tables are turned, a large

green net appears upon the scene, a contingency evidently quite

unexpected as, with crest erected and uttering loud cries of in¬

dignation, the cock bird endeavours to escape with his prize still

struggling in his beak. But the warning cries of his spouse and

young, combined with the close proximity of the green net,

cannot be ignored, so with a final note expressive of the most

supreme anger the prize is dropped aud subsequently transferred,

luckily practically uninjured, to our collecting box, much to the

delight of our Cingalese attendant, who had suffered more or less

severely conjointly with the writer in the pursuit of “ Red-vent

junior.”



Probably P. darsius; P. criton inhabits the islands of Batchian and Gilolo.—A. G. B.



