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Show 376 MR. W. V. LEGGE ON THE BIRDS OF CEYLON. [May 4, fore, always alighting to my right hand about 30 yards from where I stood. These movements were performed while I was in actual search of the nest; when approaching the vicinity of a nest for the first time, however, m y attention was always drawn to the bird running along with its wings trailing on the ground. 2. SARCIOPHORUS MALABARICUS, Bodd. I include a notice of this Plover, as I found its eggs. It is resident in Ceylon, and in the district in question breeds on low sandy ground not far from the shores of the Leways. A nest I found on the 1st July was a slight hollow scraped in the ground and containing no materials for a lining. The number of eggs was four, of a rich stone-yellow, blotched throughout with several shades of rich sepia over a number of light inky spots ; the markings, which were most numerous at the obtuse end, were elongated in the direction of the axis. In shape they were pyriform, and measured 1*46 inch by 1*12. The young would appear to be led away from the nest as soon as they are hatched, as, on resorting one morning to a nest which the previous evening had contained four eggs, I found but one left, while the young from the remaining three were nowhere to be found in the vicinity of the spot, all traces of broken shells having been likewise removed. 3. HIMANTOPUS CANDIDUS, Bonn. This species was abundant, and is in the breeding-season one of the most noisy birds imaginable. Before its nest or young are approached within a third of a mile it rises into the air, and, balancing itself with regular beating of the wings, utters loud cries for the space of several minutes, sallying off to a little distance and repeating its alarm^note with the view of drawing you away. It remains in the air thus for half an hour at a time, until it becomes a nuisance with its noise, keeping well out of shot all the while. I found that it commenced to breed in May, nesting generally on a gravelly bank on the shores of the Leway and near the water. The nest is merely a slight hollow, resembling those of other waders. The eggs, which are either two or three in number, are stout, pyriform in shape, and of an olivaceous stone-yellow ground-colour, blotched openly all over with large dark sepia blots, upon others of an inky grey hue. The mark* ings are largest at the obtuse end. Axis 1*63 inch ; diameter 1*26. On the 28th I discovered three nestlings on the end of an embank-* ment jutting out into one of the Leways: one of them concealed itself between two stakes ; and the other two took to the water, swimming with great ease and speed. The lake was not less than 200 yards in breadth at the spot; and I watched the little fugitives across it. One captured nestling was placed alive in a leathern bag which my servant was carrying; but the mouth not being properly closed, in a few minutes it escaped, and ran with incredible speed along the embankment, dodging m y servant with great adroitness, and giving him as much as he could do to recapture it. It has the head mottled buff and black, descending down the nape to a point; upper |