DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN THE SOCIETY'S MUSEUM. 



53 



131. Khyncikea Bengalensis, Linn. — The Fainted Snipe. 

 ff King Snipe." " Kajah-watuwa," Sink. — Kelaart, Prodromus 

 Faunas Zeylanica, page 135 ; Layard, Annals .Natural History, 

 1854, volume 14, page 266. 



Found throughout the whole of the low-country, arriving about the 

 same time as the 44 Pin-tail," and leaving in May, although many 

 individuals remain here to breed.* It is locally numerous, being 

 common in some districts where there are marsh and deserted 

 paddy lands, and rare in others equally favourable to its habits of 

 concealment. Numerous about Panadure and Bolgoda lakes, near 

 Kalutara and Wakwella, Matara, &c. ; likewise in the north-east 

 about Tamblegam, the " salt lake," and other localities in the 

 vicinity of the Naval Fort. In this latter district it affects much 

 the salt marshes near the edge of the tidal flats round the salt 

 lagoons. Tol< rably frequent in the Jaffna district. I am not 

 aware whether it frequents the south-eastern parts of the Island 

 in any quantity. 



132. Actitis Glareola, Gmelin. —The spotted Sandpiper. 

 "Watuvva," Smlu 



On salt marshes, near and on tidal flats, along margins of brackish 

 lagoons, on the borders of tanks, and in paddy fields newly 

 ploughed all round the shores of the Island, extending into the 

 interior where there are tanks and cultivated fields^ more numerous 

 perhaps in the north-west, about Jaffna, and all down the north- 

 east coast, and also all the salt-pans of the south-east, than in the 

 Western Province and south- western districts; in these latter parts,, 

 however, it is generally distributed, being, in company with the 

 next species, the only waders found on the dreary shores of the 

 mangrove-lined lagoons of Amblangoda, Rogalla, and the like 

 places. 



133. Actitis hypoleucos, Linn. — The common Sandpiper; 

 Totanus hypoleucos, Linn. — Layard, Annals Natural History, 

 1854, volume 14, page 265; Kelaart, Prodromus Faunas Zey- 

 lanica, page 134. 



Throughout all the low-country and up to 3,000 feet in the hills, fre- 

 quenting the borders of rivers far inland, the shores of the salt 

 lagoons and brackish lakes, and the rocks of the seashore round 

 the Island. For the greater part migratory, arriving very early 

 in September and leaving in May, but some few remain throughout 

 the year; whether they breed or not, I am unable to state. 



* Tin's bird has been known to breed at Anuriidhapura, Kalutara, Udugama, 

 and Pore, near Colombo, from which latter place the " nestling" in the Society's 

 Museum, was procured. 



