$2 



common grey Heron, Ardea Cinerea, Linn, which has not, I 

 think, before been noticed breeding in Ceylon. 



Some years ago, abont the same season, I took the^ggs 

 andyonng of the Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea, Linn, at 

 Balapitiya. The nests, mere platforms of twigs, were placed 

 on some aloe-like water plants, called Induru, the ends of the 

 broad leaves being bent in so as to form a strong and level 

 support. 



I have not yet seen the grey Heron, between Colombo 

 and Hambantota though the Purple Heron is abundant in 

 all suitable localities. In a bird of such powerful flight, 

 its occasional occurrence is probable, though exceptional, 

 in most places. 



Never having met with a description of the duckling of 

 our common Whistling Teal, Dendrocygna arcuata, Cuv. 

 and as the lovely little creatures are very characteristically 

 marked, the following description may not be uninteresting : 

 down of uniform silver-grey, or dull brown colour ; throat 

 and sides of head grey, with the crown and a streak from the 

 beak that divides and borders the eye, and is then continued, 

 brown ; back and back of neck brown, the back having three 

 grey spots on each side below the wings, and the brown of 

 the neck spreading out on either cheek, but separated from 

 the crown by a narrow grey stripe ; pinions grey, with a 

 paler spot at their base. 



" Lutinos," or yellow varieties of birds, are well-known, 

 the common Canary being a familiar example, but the brilliant 

 variety of colour displayed by such a form of the little Lory, 

 Loriculus Edwardsi, Blyth, is quite exceptional. A charming 

 specimen was obtained by me at Balapitiya, among a small 

 flock of the normal colour : Crown of head and rump brilliant 

 scarlet, shading into metalic orange on the nape ; Back vivid 



