404 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Progress of 



Our birds and animals consequently much resemble those of the 

 Indian coast opjwsite, to which we so much assimilate : nor are these 

 abundant, for the Palmirah offers neither food nor shelter. The Mar- 

 goza, Illippy, and Tamarind however supply some, but in only a 

 small proportion. I have however added several species which I 

 never saw in the south of the island, and the large salt lakes and 

 plains which fall under my jurisdiction have supplied me with vast 

 numbers oi Anatidce, Laridte, Sternidee, and all the Waders. I should 

 say I have added some thirty species to my list of indigenous birdsil ) 



Among land and freshwater shells I have made but few captures ;' 

 I have added a few Helices, Nanince, Auricidte, and a Snccinea, a 

 Valvata, a Bithinia, a minute Planorbis, and some few other genera 

 not found in the south. Pupa hieolor, which you say Benson found 

 at Galle, I have found in some abundance on one bastion of the old 

 Jaffna Fort, and there alone. The reason why you did not see Helix 

 Waltoni in my last list, was because my cousin Fred. Layard assured 

 me he had it on good authority that it was only a variety of H. hai 

 mastoma : as at that time I was a beginner, I of course knocked undeiS 

 to him. As to marine MoUusca, I have been working away hard at 

 them. I manufactured a "Ball's dredge," and on Saturday, which' 

 I generally take as a half-holiday to let my clerk work up my official 

 business, I go out and dredge a bank about two miles along the 

 coast. If I had a nice boat and intelligent men, I might do well ; but 

 my native-built cobble won't sail, and the natives take no interest in 

 anything, so the work falls heavy on my shoulders : had I not a 

 young European friend here who helps me, I could do nothing. 

 However, imder all these disadvantages, in the last ten months I have 

 collected about 600 species, nearly all with my own hands. The fol- 

 lowing anecdote well illustrates some of my Avork and the native ideas 

 upon it. One morning at sunrise I was engaged at the edge of the 

 tide, on the coral reef which runs along the coast, in turning over the 

 masses of stone, &c., assisted by my syce with a crow-bar ; on the 

 shore sat a Tamul clergyman (a friend of mine) dressed in European 

 clothes ; two of my people came along and halted near his seat, when 

 the following conversation ensued between them, affording my friend 

 infinite amusement. " Eh ! who is that on the reef? " " That ? that is 

 the Justice." " The Justice ? (with great emphasis) — and what ever 

 is he doing ? " " Oh ! looking after shells and sea-slugs." " What 

 does he do with them ? eat them ? " " No, you fool ! " was the reply, 

 " he has great boxes full of them, and he sends them to the Queen, 

 who puts them into a large house she has got in England ! ! ! " Here 

 followed the usual exclamations of native surprise, and the pair 

 walked on. 



I have lately been finding rather a large qiiantity of the Pearl 

 Oyster. I should like very much to hit upon a good bed, that we 

 might have a fishing to help our coffers. If you know of any person in 

 your part of theworld willing to exchange shells, I would willingly enter 

 into some arrangement to do so ; or I would gladly send shells, &c. to 

 any one who contributes to any of the scientific societies, if he would 

 send me in return an occasional copy of his papers. I know nothing 

 of what is going on in the zoological world ; I can't afford to buy 



