8 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



III. — Journal No. 44, Yol. XIII., 1893, containing, in addition to the 

 Proceedings of Council and General Meetings, the following Papers, 

 viz. :— 



(a) " Notes on the Nidification of Sturnornis Senex (White-headed 

 Starling) and Cissa Ornata (Ceylon Blue Jay)," by Mr. F. 

 Lewis, v 



(&) " Notes on Knox's Ceylon in its Literary Aspect," by Mr. 

 H. White, c.c.s. 



(c) " Kurunegala Vistaraya ; with Notes on Kurunegala, Ancient 



and" Modern," by Mr. F. H. Modder. 



(d) " The Epic of Parakrama," by the Right Rev. E. S. Copleston, 



d.d., Lord Bishop of Colombo. 



(e) " The Ancient Industries of Ceylon," by the late Mr. G. 



Wall, f.l.s., f.r.a.s., Vice-President. 

 (/) " Chilappatikaram," by the Hon. P. Coomaraswamy, m.l.c 

 (g) " Ancient Cities and Temples in the Kurunegala District : 



Yapahuwa," by Mr. F. H. Modder. 



The Journal of last year will be issued shortly. Your Council is 

 glad to be able to report that there are no arrears of publications to 

 be issued. 



The Society has to acknowledge its obligation to the Ceylon Govern- 

 ment for allowing its publications to be printed at the Government 

 Press, and its thanks are due to the Government Printer and his 

 Assistants for their readiness to help the Society in the printing of 

 their publications and for the care bestowed on the work. 



Arcliceology . 



As last year, the Council is indebted to the Archaeological Com- 

 missioner for a short resume of the operations of the Archaeological 

 Survey during 1894. 



From May onwards the work at Anuradhapura was ably carried on 

 by Mr. M. F. Maxfield, acting, as Assistant, under the Commissioner's 

 written instructions, Mr. Bell himself having been recalled temporarily 

 for additional duty elsewhere 



Abhayagiriya Dagaba.— To complete once for all the excavation of 

 that quarter of the ancient city which was covered by the Abhaya- 

 giriya stupa and surrounding monasteries, attention at this point was 

 exclusively directed to the dagaba itself, the entire sweep of circum- 

 jacent ruins having been finished by the end of 1893. 



Commencing at the east, the stone-revetted mandapas, or porticos, 

 at the four entrances to the outer quadrangle, were freed of the earth 

 and trees which covered them, and their bold outlines restored as far 

 as practicable — neglect, vandalism, and destruction wrought by the 

 roots of large trees having left little of the upper courses in situ. 



The north mandapa had suffered least, and, as now rebuilt from 

 steps to parapet, presents a strikingly handsome appearance, with its 

 sharp-cut mouldings and graceful vase finials. 



Simultaneously the heavier work was steadily carried on of trench- 

 ing round the base of the dagaba and laying bare from the accumula- 

 tion of brick debris, to a width of 10 ft. on either side, the four quartz 

 projections— so-called " chapels" — at the cardinal points. From the 



* An advance copy was laid on the table. 



