59 



Ardetta Sinensis (Gmelin.) The Yellow Bittern, 



This pretty little Bittern is very common in this Province 

 %eing found in marshy districts and round the Pantura Lake 

 in all spots suitable to its habits. Layard, however, seems to 

 have noticed it only in the south, where it may be still more 

 abundant. It affects principally scrubby places and reed beds, 

 and is, perhaps, the least terrestial of the Ardetta, being nearly 

 always flushed from a bush, and after taking flight it generally 

 alights on the top of another. It perches easily on au up* 

 right reed stalk in the same posture as a warbler. 



ArdeTTA Cinnamomea (Qmelin.) The Chesmit Bittern. 



This bird is excessively plentiful round Colombo. It fre- 

 quents the damp fern-brakes and marshy spots in the Cinna* 

 mon Gardens, where it breeds. It does not seem to alight on 

 trees as readily as the former bird, and is more skulking in its 

 habits. 



ArdeTTA FLAVicokLis (Latham.) The Black Bittern. 



This bird is migratory to this district, arriving in October or 

 the beginning of November, at which time all individuals that I 

 have procured, or seen shot, were in immature plumage, with the 

 feathers of the back, wings, coverts and abdomen edged pale. 

 It is tolerably numerous in the marshes between Colombo and 

 CJottah, and all round Pantura Lake. 



Nycticorax Griseus (Linnceus.) The Hight Heron. 



There is a colony of these birds on the Pantura Lake : when 

 frightened out of the low bushy trees overhanging the water, 

 in which they roost by day, they fly heavily to some neigh- 

 bouring perch, only to return again as soon as the intruder 

 is out of sight. Most of the birds, I observed there, were 

 immature and in the following plumage : occipital feathers form- 

 ing a slight crest ; head and interscapular region brown with a 



