56 



ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, (CEYLON BRANCH.) 



Lay ard, Annals Natural History, 1841, volume 14, page 112; 

 Kelaart, Prodromus Faunae Zeylanica, page 133. 



Throughout all the low-country and extending into the Central 

 Province to 2,500 feet ; abundant in all marshes and paddy fields 

 and in the vicinity of fresh water; perhaps less numerous in the 

 dry districts of the north-west and south-east than elsewhere. 



Note. — There is a small colony of these Herons in the Fort at 

 Trincomalee, around which they may be seen perched on the rocks 

 catching fish. This is the only place where 1 have ever observed 

 the species in such situations. 



143. Butorii;ES Javanica, Horsf. — The Little Green 

 Bittern. — Layard, Annals Natural History, 1854, volume 14, 

 page 113; omitted from Kelaart's List, Prodromus Faunae 

 Zeylanica. 



Throughout the low-country generally, but most numerous in the 

 north, north-east, and south-west. In the north it is found in the 

 Fort ditch at Jaffna and other similar spots, and frequents the 

 borders of all salt lagoons in the Trincomalee district which are 

 immediately surrounded by underwood and jungle, in which it 

 lurks by day, coming out just before sunset to feed. Occurs on 

 Colombo lake and about Kotte, likewise on Bolgnda and Amblan- 

 goda lakes ; numerous on the banks of some of the south-western 

 rivers to a distance of thirty or forty miles from the sea. Layard, 

 loc. eit., remarks that it replaces Ardetta Sinensis in the north, and 

 appears to have overlooked it in the soulh. It affects the imme- 

 diate banks of rivers, hiding during the day under the overhang- 

 ing bushes and jungle, and is thus likely to be passed over in places, 

 where, as on Gindurah river, it is common. 



144. Ardetta flavicollis, Lath. — The Black Bittern; 

 Layard, Annals Natural History, 1855, volume 14, page 113; 

 omitted from Kelaart's list, Prodromus Faunae Zeylanica. 



Migratory to the west and south of Ceylon during the north-east 

 monsoon; frequents the swamps in the vicinity of Colombo, where 

 it first arrives ; occurs in reedy, grassy spots on the borders of all 

 the lake-^ of the Western Province. I did not meet with it either 

 in the south-east or in the Trincomalee district. Layard, loc. 

 cit., says it is "not uncommon about Matara." 



145. Ardetta Cinnamomea, Gmelin. — The Chesnut Bittern. 

 "Nati-Korowaka," also " Meti-Korowaka," 'Sink. — Layard, Annals 

 Natural History, 1854, volume 14, page 113; Kelaart, Pro- 

 dromus Faunse Zeylanica, page 133. 



Western and south-western districts. Common in the Cinnamon 

 Garden fernbrakes and in paddy fields throughout the Eayigam 



