No. 29.— 1884.] BALANGODA ORNITHOLOGY. 



273 



Rivers. — The Walaw6-ganga is the chief river of the dis- 

 trict, and takes its rise below and around Miriyakotakanda, 

 from which a large tributary, known as the Oorawa-ela, 

 supplies a material portion to its waters. This branch 

 has to descend over an enormous precipice, that is, I believe, 

 the highest waterfall in the country. Looking up the fall 

 from below, the water appears to come from the clouds, as 

 no part of the land to the back of it can be seen, except 

 from the opposite hill. The Boltumbe-oya, Boranga-ela, 

 Maha-oya, and Massena-oya are the chief remaining streams 

 of any magnitude, or worthy of notice. 



The Bilihul-oya is, of course, an important stream, but its 

 rise is not made within the district, and only passes through 

 a part of the locality before it finally joins the Walaw6- 

 gapga. 



Botanical aspect. — The country to the west of the Balan- 

 goda town is chiefly large forest, that also clothes the 

 northern range. The space formed and enclosed by this 

 forest-clad area consists of chena, grass-land, and the coffee 

 estates belonging to both natives and Europeans, The 

 small district of Boltumbe, comprising a group of villages 

 together at the foot of the Northern chain. Paddy fields, 

 both large and small, dot about throughout the middle of 

 the district, and wherever facilitated by the lay of the land. 

 The forests contain a curious mixture of trees. The rocky 

 faces of the hills are covered with the formidable katukitul 

 or spiked palm ( Oncosperma fasiculata), and lower down, 

 where the temperature is warmer, cables of rattan (Cala- 

 mus rudentum) chain trees together with their powerful 

 grasp. 



In the sandy soil exposed to the blasts from the south-west, 

 there flourishes the ironwood ( Mesua ferrea), that appears 

 to be widely distributed in the district. Malaboda, or wild 

 nutmeg (Myristica laurifolia), the favourite food of the 

 Hill mynah, is both numerous and common to different 

 elevations, but preferring an altitude above 2,000 feet. 



Del or wild breadfruit (Artocarpus nobilis), is frequently 

 found in the warmer localities, and affords food to both 



