DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN THE SOCIETY'S MUSEUM. 55 



138. Rallina Ceylonica, Gmelin, — The Banded Rail. 

 Porzana Zeylonica, Gmelin. — Layard, Annals Natural History, 

 1854, volume 14, page 2 67. Covettuera Zeylanica, Brown, — 

 Kelaart, Prodromus Fauna3 Zeylanica, page 135. 



Migratory to the west coast, coming in with the long shore wind in 

 October. It extends to the Kandyaa country, being occasionally 

 found in Dumbara. 1 have not heard of it from the east coast. 



139. Porzana Fuse a, Linn. - The Ruddy Rail; Layard, 

 Annals Natural History, 1854, volume 14, page 267. Omitted from 

 Kelaart, Prodromus Fauna? Zeylanica. 



Western and Central Provinces. This is a very rare species; Layard 

 got it at Kotte, near Colombo, and 1 have heard of individuals 

 from the Kandy district, these being the only places where it 

 has as yet been observed. 



140. Ardea Purpurea, Linn.— The Purple Heron; Blue 

 Heron. " Karawal Koka," Sink. — Layard, Annals Natural His- 

 tory, volume 14, page 110; Kelaart, Prodromus Fauna? Zeylanica, 

 page 133. 



Throughout the marshy*, well -watered districts of the Island, but 

 more numerous down the west coast than on the opposite side of 

 the Island, where the Grey Heron takes its place in some measure. 

 Numerous about Kalpitiya, Negombo, Bolgodaand Amblangoda, 

 lakes and marshes to the south of the latter, and about M atara ; 

 occurs on the tanks in the Kataragama district, and generally 

 throughout the Eastern Province ; more plentiful again towards 

 the north, frequenting Topur tank and all the salt lakes from 

 Trincomalee and iSilaveli northwards through Terria and Mullait- 

 tivu to Jaffna. 



141. Buphus Coromandus, Bodd.— The Cattle Egret. 

 "Paddy Bird" of Europeans. " Gelevi Koka," Sink— Ardea 

 bubulcus, Jmng. — Layard, Annals Natural History, 1854, volume 

 14, page 111; Kelaart, Prodromus Fauna? Zeylanica, page 133. 



Throughout the low-country ; more abundant in the south and west 

 than on the east side and in the Northern Province. Inhabits 

 paddy fields and open lands in the vicinity of streams and swamps 

 between Colombo and Ambepussa, throughout the Rayigam and 

 Pasdun Korales, and in the Galle and Matara districts; occurs in 

 similar localities, but not so plentifully, in the neighbourhood of 

 Kataragama and throughout the Eastern Province, likewise in the 

 vicinity of all the salt lagoons between Trincomalee and the Jaffna 

 district, and occurs frequently in Dumbara. 



142. Ardeola Grayii, Syhis. — The Pond Heron. " Paddy 

 Bird." "Kanna Koka," Sink. — Ardeola leucoptera, Bodd. — 



