THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
29 (5 
The lowrie or lory is a species of parrot, and varies 
in its size. 
Snipes are found in great plenty in the hot season, which 
is the best time for shooting them. The painted snipe is 
a very beautiful and striking bird. In size it differs little 
from our common snipe ; only the bill is somewhat shorter, 
the body and wings are spotted with red, yellow and 
black spots, which give it a very tine appearance. 
The florican is a species of the crane kind, about the 
size and weight of a large capon, and is esteemed excel- 
lent eating. It lives among the woods which skirt the banks 
of pools or lakes. The neck and body are longish, but not 
so slender in proportion to their length as those of the 
crane or heron. 
The banks of the rivers and lakes abound with storks, 
cranes, herons, and water fowls of various descriptions. 
Wood-peckers are found with beautiful top-knots of a 
golden colour. 
Pigeons, both wild and tame, form a prominent part of 
the birds of Ceylon. The most remarkable species is the 
cinnamon pigeon, so called from being particularly partial 
to the cinnamon woods. It is of a beautiful green colour, 
and is as large as our common fowl. This species swarms 
in Ceylon at all seasons of the year; they are often shot 
by the Europeans, and are highly esteemed for the table. 
It is remarkable of these pigeons that they never alight 
on the ground, but perch on high trees, particularly on 
the Banyan- tree. 
