266 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
II1J.—GkroLocicaL ASPECT. 
The coast of Ceylon is fringed with littoral deposits, which, 
though geologically recent, are of remote antiquity when 
regarded from the point of view of human affairs. They 
consist of ancient unconsolidated beaches, sandstones, raised 
coral reefs, leaf beds, submerged coastal flats, &c., and plateau 
gravels. The last of these, as the present writer has been 
able to show, contain stone tools belonging to a primitive stage 
of culture. The coast deposits, which may in part be correlated 
with some high-level gravels terracing the main river valleys, 
indicate cycles of upheaval and depression, which have 
influenced wide stretches of country. 
There can be no doubt that Ceylon and India have been 
connected by a land bridge in the past. It is probable, too, 
that this connection has been established and broken more 
than once. Minor movements have also affected the coast 
at various times, and are doubtless still proceeding. There 
is no evidence to show that they were violent ; indeed, they 
are best regarded as discontinuous and slow. Land bridges 
have, of course, influenced the distribution of animals and 
plants, and by means of such connections came many of the 
indigenous creatures of this country, not excepting man 
himself. It is not possible within the limits of the present 
paper, nor is it desirable, to consider the recent geological 
history of Ceylon in detail. Suffice it to say that evidence 
enough exists to show that the coastal belt is cohstantly 
subject to slow fluctuations of level ; and that whereas the 
most ancient movements which affected this country were 
epeirogenic (or mountain forming) in type, those of more recent 
date were orogenic (or continent forming), that is, general and 
widespread in effect. It is hoped that at some future date 
occasion will be found to publish an account of the later 
geological history of Ceylon, and the influence of land move- 
ments upon our flora and fauna ; meanwhile the reader must 
be asked to take the above statement for granted, subject 
to forthcoming proof.* 


* The most recent contribution to this subject is a paper by 
Mr. W. E. Wait, ‘‘ The Distribution of Birds in Ceylon and its Rela- 
tion to recent Geological Changes in the Island.’’—Spolia Zeylanica, 
Vol. X., Part XXXVI., December, 1914, pp. 1-32. 
