Bibliographical Notice* 457 



the Dugong (Halicore Bugongy F. Cuv.) may be enumerated as 

 occurring on various points of the coast. 



Of the Birds of the island upwards of three hundred and twenty- 

 species have been indicated by the persevering labours of Dr. Tem- 

 pleton, Dr. Kelaart, and Mr. Layard ; but many yet remain to be 

 identified. In fact, to the eye of a stranger their prodigious numbers, 

 and especially the myriads of water-fowl, which, notwithstanding the 

 presence of the crocodiles, people the lakes and marshes in the 

 eastern provinces, form one of the marvels of Ceylon. 



Among the Reptiles, one of the earliest, if not the first remarkable 

 animal to startle a stranger, is the Iguana, a huge lizard of from four 

 to five feet in length, which may be seen at noon-day searching for 

 ants and insects in the middle of the highway and along the fences. 

 This, however, is but the stranger's introduction to innumerable 

 varieties of lizards, all most attractive in their sudden movements, 

 and some unsurpassed in the brilliancy of their colouring, which 

 bask on banks, dart over rocks, and peer curiously out from the 

 chinks of every ruined wall. The true Chameleon is found, but not 

 in great numbers. The Ceratophora are likewise remarkable ; but 

 the most familiar and attractive of the class are the Geckoes, which 

 frequent the sitting-rooms, and, being furnished with pads to each toe, 

 are enabled to ascend perpendicular walls and adhere to glass and 

 ceilings. Crocodiles are abundant, and afford a fertile theme, as do 

 tortoises and turtles. Of Snakes the Singhalese profess to distinguish 

 a great many kinds ; but so cautiously do serpents make their ap- 

 pearance that the surprise of long residents is invariably expressed 

 at the rarity with which they are to be seen. Davy, whose attention 

 was carefully directed to the poisonous serpents of Ceylon, came to 

 the conclusion that but four out of twenty species examined by him 

 were venomous, and of these only two, the Tic-polonga {Baboia ele- 

 gans) and the Cobra de Capello {Naja tripudians), were capable of 

 inflicting a wound hkely to be fatal to man. The third is the Cara- 

 willa {Trigonocephalus hypnale), a brown snake of about twelve 

 inches in length ; and for the fourth the Singhalese have no name 

 in their language, — a proof that it is neither deadly nor abundant. 

 In the numerous marshes there are many varieties of Frogs, which, 

 both by their colours and extraordinary size, are calculated to excite 

 the surprise of strangers ; the graceful Tree-frogs (^y/«) may likewise 

 be found in great numbers crouching under broad leaves to protect 

 them from the sun. They possess in a high degree the power of 

 changing their colour ; and one which had seated itself on the gilt 

 pillar of a dinner-lamp was scarcely to be distinguished from the 

 or molu to which it clung. 



An interesting chapter is devoted to the fishes of Ceylon, number- 

 ing upwards of six hundred species and varieties. The notices con- 

 cerning the MoUusca, Insecta, Crustacea, Arachnida, Myriapoda, 

 and Iladiata are Hkewise important and copious. Lists are given, 

 which want of space precludes the possibility of more than adverting 

 to. We trust, however, that we have said enough to indicate, at 

 least, the copious stores of information contained in this really 



