1104 
ANASTOMUS OSCITANS. 
Distribution . — This is the most widely distributed species of its family in Ceylon, for besides being 
found in the extreme north, here and there throughout the northern forests, in various localities on the 
eastern side of the island, and abundantly frequenting the south-east of the island, it inhabits the extreme 
south from Matara round to Amblangodaon the west, and further has been shot as a straggler near Colombo. 
It is numerous in the Hambantota and Yala districts, inhabiting, however, the sea-board more than the 
interior; thence northward it is found round the -skirts of the Park country to Batticaloa, but is not so 
common there as in the first-named parts. Large flocks are seen sometimes at Kanthelai, and in common 
with other Ibises it frequents the great Padewiva and other suitable tanks in the Vanni. It is plentiful in 
parts of the North-western Province. In 1872 a young bird was shot on the Kelaniganga not far from 
Mutwal ; and there is a permanent colony on the Amblangoda Lake, a portion of the shores of which are flat 
and shallow, furnishing a supply of suitable sliell-fish ; but I have never seen it at the Bolgodde Lake, as it 
is unsuited to the bird’s habits. Layard discovered a breeding-colony near Matara. 
In parts of India it is very abundant where there are large rivers, tanks, and marshes, particularly in 
Bengal, according to Jerdon and more recent observers. It collects in the Doab in large numbers to bi-eed. 
In Jodhpoor it is not uncommon, though it is not evenly distributed throughout the province; and further 
east, in Sindh, Cutch, and Kattiawai’, it has not been noticed, although it occurs sparingly on tanks 
and rivers in Guzerat. In the Deccan it is not uncommon, and, according to Davidson and Wenden, is 
resident in the Bhima. Jerdon makes no mention of its occurrence on the Malabar coast ; but in all probability 
it frequents suitable localities there and in the Carnatic. Turning northward again we find it pretty common 
in Chota Nagpur, being found sometimes on the beds of large rivers in hilly districts even. Mr. Ball cites 
it as occurring in the Rajmehal hills, Manbhum, Lohardugga, Singhbhum, Sirguja, Sambalpur, Orissa, 
Nowagarh, Karial, Jaipur, and Bustar, while Mr. Hume has had it sent him from Raipur. In the Furreed- 
pore district of Eastern Bengal it is pretty common from March until September, and in Sylhet it is to 
be met with in the cold weather ( Cripps ). It appears to extend to the eastward of the Bay in very limited 
numbers. It is rare in Pegu, according to Mr. Oates, and further south it is not found at all in Tenasserim. 
The southern portion of Burmah would appear, therefore, to be its furthest limit in this direction; and in the 
islands of the Bay, which are destitute of all of the Platalcidae, it is of course not found. 
Habits . — This singular bird affects the borders of salt lakes, lagoons, marshes, tanks, and estuaries in 
.Ceylon; but in India is also found along the margins of large rivers, and smaller streams even, flowing 
through hilly districts. In our island the maritime regions furnish it with localities suitable to its tastes, and 
it is there that it is mostly found. Out of the breeding-season it associates in small parties, but while nesting 
sallies out to feed in large flocks. I once came upon a flock of more than 100 on some grass-land round the 
margins of Sittrawella tank, and they presented a fine appearance as they stalked slowly about or stood erect 
attentively regarding me as I issued from the surrounding forest into the open. They were not particularly 
shy, allowing me to get within a long shot of them before rising. Though not swift on the wing, the Shell- 
Ibis is a bird of powerful flight, and delights in soaring in the air at a great height, after the manner of 
Sea-Gulls; when disturbed at their nesting-place they mount with a gyrating flight, and commence flying 
in wide circles, some in the opposite direction to others. It is a most inveterate consumer of shell-fish, 
searching about with its bill and sometimes with its feet in the mud for its prey, which, when found, it takes 
to a convenient spot and, holding it under one foot, breaks in the shell with a blow of its powerful bill and 
pulls out the contents. Smaller shells are, writes Lieut. Bingham, who has devoted much attention to its 
habits, crushed between its powerful mandibles and swallowed by repeated jerks of its head. It is probably 
owing to this habit, he remarks, that the attrition of the mandibles is caused ; and such perhaps is the case ; 
but if so, it is singular that the space does not exist at the point of greatest power, namely near the gape, 
where one would suppose the bird to seize the shell it desired to crush. Furthermore, although the edges of 
the under mandible have the appearance of being worn away by friction, those of the upper present a sort of 
hard leathery-looking appearance, not indicative of being caused by great pressure. The Shell-eater perches 
and roosts on trees, generally flying up to the topmost branch. The neck is carried almost straight, both in 
walking and when the bird is at rest. 
The following interesting paragraph, appertaining to the habits of this species in confinement, is contained 
