ef the I/land of Ceylon. 1 69 



quainted with any plant that ptffieffes this falutary quality. 

 It is, neverthelefs, aflertcd by them, that the mongoos has 

 been feen to attack the cobra di capello ; when, though fe- 

 vertly bitten, it has killed the ferpent, and eaten a partTof it, 

 without any vifible elle&s of poifon. 



Of fquirrels there are two fpecies. One, which is called 

 lacna, has a red nofe quite flat, and long black tail, which is 

 only found in the woods ; the other, called dandu la na, with 

 yellow longitudinal flreaks, frequents gardens, where it de- 

 ftroys every kind of fruit. 



The hares are large, but inferior, as a food, to thofe of 

 Europe. There are otters, but they are very rare, and feldom 

 feen. The porcupine is to be found every where in the 

 woods, and may be readily tamed into all the familiarity of 

 a domeftic animal. 



There are two fpecies of rats, which infeft the houfe and 

 the garden : one of them is called the ?nufk-rat, which is fo 

 well known in the peninfula. 



There is one of four fpecies of bats known here, which is 

 called the flying fox ; its French name is rouffette : it is well 

 known in the peninfula, and feeds only on fruit. 



The birds are among the moft beautiful productions of this 

 ifland; but their prevailing haunts are in the eaftern parts: 

 the number of them is comparatively fttliH in the vicinity of 

 Columbo. Not more than thirty fpecies of them have been 

 alcertained fince the Englifh have become its inhabitants. 

 Among thefe are the pelican, the flamand, the great and imall 

 Greek pigeon, the rollieu of Mindanao of Briflbii ; a beautiful 

 cuckoo, with variegated plumage, called kouroulongjia\ the 

 maynat; two fly-catchers, with two long feathers in the tail, 

 the one with a black head and white body, the other with a 

 blue head and reddifh back ; and an abundance of wood- 

 peckers, with golden plumage. 



Among the fifh which have yet been obferved, and are 

 not generally, if at all, known, is a ray, with a projecting 

 fnout like that of a dog, and of a brown colour, with a green 

 tinge on the upper fide. The fifhermen appear to have a 

 knowledge of the crimp- fifh. 



The number of ferpents is very great, and the larger part 

 of them are of a poifonous nature ; nor can they be generally 

 known, as none of them exactly correfpond with the prints of 

 RuflVI. 



The cobra di capello, whiclrW a well known and mod for- 

 midable reptile, is a native of Ceylon. It ha.- a broad neck, 

 and a mark of dark brown on the forehead; which, when 



viewed 

 6 



