280 JOURNAL, R,A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART II. 



its place with the first half read from the last letter ; or 

 from the end to the beginning and from the beginning to 

 the end, as in the English word Glenelg* 



(1) The lotus (Nelumbrium speciosum) reared in the water of 



the river was opened ; 



(2) The kendattd ( Cuculus melano-leucas)* obtained its great 



delight, the water ; 



(3) The noise of the birds that received the water echoed ; 



(4) The moon that emitted rays on all sides lost her brilliancy. 



From the same writer, abounding in puns of different 

 kinds, the following is selected as a specimen of a stanza 



* A species of cuckoo, with a peculiarly plaintive cry. It is 

 supposed by the Sinhalese that this bird is "begging for water from 

 the clouds, since it cannot satisfy its thirst otherwise than by swallowing 

 drops of water in the air." Some suppose that it has a hole or defect 

 in its beak or tongue which prevents it from sipping water. Mr. Wilson 

 has the following note with reference to this bird at page 14 of the 

 "Megha Duta":— 



" The Chataca is a bird supposed to drink no water but rain-water ; 

 of course he always makes a prominent figure in the description of wet 

 and cloudy weather. Thus, in the rainy season of our author's 

 * Ratu-SanhareY or assemblage of seasons :— 



In the translated " Amarakosha " it appears that the Chataka is a 

 bird not yet well known, but that it is possibly the same as the Piphia, 

 a kind of cuckoo ( Cuculus radiatus ) . 



d S3 



6 €3 



d €3 



d S3 



The thirsty Chataka impatient eyes 

 The promised waters of the labouring skies, 

 Where heavy clouds, with low but pleasing song, 

 In slow procession murmuring move along. " 



