No. 29. — 1884.] BALANGODA ORNITHOLOGY. 



301 



52. Palumbus Torringtonice, the Ceylon Wood-pigeon. 

 Fairly numerous in suitable localities. I procured a fine specimen 

 in the jungle reservation below Killarney estate. 



53. Chalcophaps Indica, the Bronze-winged Dove. I saw a 

 single example of this dove. In 1876 I caught one in a rat-trap 

 that I had set for jungle-fowl on an elephant path in Dikoya. 

 Bamboo jungles seem to be the most favourite localities for this 

 bird, or damp open glades. I have seen them on the railway line 

 near Liberia estate, Polgahawela, almost in greater numbers than 

 anywhere else. 



54. Gallus Lafayettii, the Jungle-fowl. Numerous, but less 

 so than at a lower level. 



55. Galloperdix bicalcarata, the Ceylon Spur-fowl. Very 

 common. 



56. Turnix Taigoor, the Black-breasted Bustard-quail. Mr. 

 Roberts and myself flushed three on the Bopatalawa patanas. 

 They are numerous in such localities, and not unfrequently in open 

 chena in Sabaragamuwa. They usually affect grass land. 



57. Erythra ph(Enicura, the White-breasted Water-hen. Mr. 

 Roberts states that he has seen or heard this bird. This is very 

 probable, as I once flushed one in a large swamp in the Agras in 

 1874. It is, however, rare on the hills. 



58. Gallinago stenura, the Pin-tailed Snipe. The " first 

 snipe of the season " in Bagawantalawa was shot by Mr. Hadden, 

 of Kotiyagala estate on the Bagawantalawa patanas, on the 23rd' 

 September. I did not see the bird myself in order to identify it, 

 but I have little doubt that it was a Pin-tail. There seems 

 to be a variety of opinion with regard to the arrival of Snipe in 

 Ceylon. I have always found that the Grey Wagtail and the 

 Snipe arrive either together or within a week of each other, the 

 Wagtail arriving first. Last year I flushed a Snipe on the 3rd of 

 September, and have known a "bag" made in Kurunegala on the 

 first week during this month. I am of opinion, however, that at 

 the time of their coming to the country they drop into the first 

 place that suits them, from which they spread. This theory may 

 confirm the fact of extraordinary numbers being found in par- 

 ticular fields at particular periods of the year. 



59. Tringoides hypoleucus, the Common Sand-piper. I saw 

 one example of this species on the river close to the " Campion 

 ford." Mr, Roberts informs me of an interesting fact hitherto 

 unknown I believe—viz., that the Common Sand-piper can dive 



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