264 



BIRDS. 



[Chap. VIII. 



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, 



