264 
BIEDS. 
[Chap. VIIL 
worm, common in Ceylon, nearly two feet in length, 
and as thick as a small snake. Through these inequali- 
ties the water was still running off in natural drains 
towards the great channel in the centre, that conducts it 
to the broken sluice ; and across these it was sometimes 
difficult to find a safe footing for our horses. 
In a lonely spot, towards the very centre of the tank, 
we came unexpectedly upon an extraordinary scene. A 
sheet of still water, two or three hundred yards broad, 
and about half a mile long, was surrounded by a line of 
tall forest-trees, whose branches stretched above its 
margin. The sun had not yet risen, when we perceived 
some white objects in large numbers on the tops of the 
trees ; and as we came nearer, we discovered that a vast 
colony of pelicans had formed their settlement and 
breeding-place in this solitary retreat. They literally 
covered the trees in hundreds ; and their heavy nests, 
like those of the swan, constructed of large sticks, 
forming great platforms, were sustained by the horizontal 
branches. Each nest contained three eggs, rather larger 
than those of a goose ; and the male bird stood placidly 
beside the female as she sat upon them. 
Nor was this all ; along with the pelicans prodigious 
numbers of other water-birds had selected this for their 
dwelling-place, and covered the trees in thousands, 
standing on the topmost branches ; tall flamingoes, 
herons, egrets, storks, ibises, and other waders. We 
had disturbed them thus early, before their habitual 
hour for betaking themselves to their fishing-fields. By 
degrees, as the light increased, we saw them beginning 
to move upon the trees ; they looked around them on 
every side, stretched their awkward legs behind them, 
extended their broad wings, gradually rose in groups. 
