NOTES. 209 
is by no means clear, and previous to the year 1843 nothing seems to 
be known about it. Mr. Black writes from Galle as follows: ‘“ He 
has been at the Hill as long as the oldest inhabitant can remember. 
Though quite active he is blind in one eye, and I do not think sees 
very well with the other...... I wrote to America to Mrs. Garstin, 
an old lady of ninety, the widow of the Rev. Norman Garstin, D.D., 
who lived many years at Hirimbura as far back as 1843. She could 
not remember how the tortoise came to the Hill. Her son, also in 
America, writes that he remembers riding the tortoise when a boy. 
He left Ceylon about 1860.” Mr. Paul Pieris, C.C.S., writes as 
follows: ‘‘ The Galle tortoise is at Garstin Hill, about three miles 
from the fort, a spot which is very prominent as one sails past Galle. 
This tortoise is said to be one of two brought to the spot by Dr. 
Norman Garstin, Colonial Chaplain of Galle, certainly before 1846. 
The animal is about four feet across, and is still in fairly good health. 
It roams about the Hill, eating leaves and the very tender coconuts 
which drop from trees, and any food that the servants at the house 
throw to it. Garstin Hill was purchased by Dr. Garstin in part 
from a clergyman who lives in local recollection as William and in 
part from the neighbouring villagers. Garstin, I understand, built 
the bungalow. His administrators sold the land to my kinsman, 
the late Frederick Dias Abeysinha, Mudaliyar, who in a fit of spleen 
has left it to the church. I remember the Mudaliyar had some 
papers which he once showed to me, from which he proved to his own 
satisfaction that the tortoise was over 120 years old. Where those 
papers are I cannot say. Perhaps the Bishop may have them among 
the title deeds. The Mudaliyar was also not unwilling to give the 
animal to the Museum. Perhaps if the Bishop were informed of 
this he might carry out his desire. I am sorry that I cannot give 
you any further information, but you ought to have no trouble” 
about securing a photo of the animal from Galle.” 
In April last I paid a visit to Galle and saw the tortoise for myself. 
He is a specimen of T'estudo gigantea, and is slightly larger than the 
Colombo tortoise. He seemed perfectly happy, roaming at will 
through the delightful grounds of Mr. Black’s residence, and was 
quite active. 
In addition to the Colombo and Galle giant tortoises, there was 
still another specimen, which was the property of Mr. A. A. Hankey, 
of Arncliffe, Colombo. This beast was brought from the Seychelles 
twelve years ago, and has now been sent to the Trevandrum 
Zoological Gardens in India. JOSEPH PEARSON. 
24. The Gourami.—In his Administration Reports for 1908 and 
1909 Dr. Willey describes the introduction of the gourami into 
Ceylon. Eventually three were placed in the small tank at the 
25 6(11)11 
