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living insects, leaf insects of the genus Phytlium, remarkubie for 

 their general resemblance to the leaves of the guava, on which 

 they are fed. The males are smaller than the females, less 

 numerous, and carry two long feelers or antennae, held backwards, 

 nearly as long as the body. The females lay their eggs, which 

 resemble seeds, freely, and the young hatch out without difficulty- 



The Natural History Collection comprises representatives of the 

 tishes, amphibia, reptiles, birds, mammals, insects, Crustacea, and 

 moUusca occurring within the zoological province of Ceylon. 



The centre of the gallery is occupied by a Jimg'le scene 

 containing sambur deer, commonly known as elk, a wild boar, 

 a crocodile, peacock, and several smaller birds. Most of the 

 specimens were obtained fi-om the Hambantota District in the 

 Southern Province, where all of the species are to be found. 



Opposite to this group, over the head of the staircase, is a group 

 of spotted deer, leopard, and monkeys, the material for which was 

 also obtained from the same locality. The monkeys on the 

 tree overhead belong to the common low-country species of the 

 Maritime Provinces, Semnopithecus priamus. 



BIRDS. 



The birds of Ceylon comprise large numbers of migl'atory 

 species, which visit the Island during the north-east monsoon, but 

 do not breed here ; the chief bird of this kind is the Flamingo. 

 Then there are numerous resident species, which are indigenous to 

 Ceylon, but occur also in the Indian Peninsula and elsewhere ; the 

 chief bird of this kind is the Peafowl. There are no fewer than 

 forty -nine endemic species, which are peculiar to Ceylon, not being 

 found beyond the confines of the Island; the chief bird of this kind 

 is the Ceylon .Jungle-fowl. Lastly, there are a few occasional 

 visitors, which do not come regularly, putting ashore here through 

 stress of weather ; the chief bird of this kind is the Frigate-bird. 



BIRD CASE I. 

 Turning to the left (east) from the staircase the first bird case, 

 beginning from the top shelf in front, contains representatives of 

 the Frogmouths (Podargidse) ; the Trogons (Trogonidae) ; the 

 Cuckoos, Koels, Malkohas, and Coucals (Cuculidse) ; Paroquets and 

 Loriquets (Psittacida?) ; Owls (Strigidae). The Ceylonese Frog- 

 mouth {Batrachostomus moniliger), which also occurs in Travan- 

 core, is a remarkable bird on account of the oddness of its gape, 

 ciiriously resembling the mouth of a frog. Of the cuckoos, the 

 genus Surniculus, represented by the species S. lugubris, the 

 Dropgo Cuckoo, is remarkable for its extraordinary resemblance 

 to a Drongo or King Crow (Dicrurus). It is said to lay its eggs 



