127 



CHAPTEE I. 



MAMMALIA. 



With the exception of the MammaUa and the Bh\ls, the 

 fauna of Ceylon has, up to the present, failed to receive 

 that systematic attention to which its richness and variety 

 so amply entitle it. The Singhalese themselves, habitually 

 indolent, and singularly unobservant of natm-e in her 

 operations, are at the same time restrained from the study 

 of natural history by the tenets of their rehgion which 

 forbid the taldng of hfe under any circumstances. From 

 the natiu"e of their avocations, the majority of the 

 Eitropean residents engaged in planting and commerce, 

 are discouraged from cultivating this taste ; and it is to 

 be regretted that the civil servants of the government, 

 whose position and duties would have afforded them 

 influence and extended opportunity for successful in- 

 vestigation, have never seen the unportance of encoiu^ag- 

 iuo; such studies. 



The first effective impulse to the cultivation of natural 

 science in Ceylon, was communicated by Dr. Davy when 

 connected with the medical staff of the army from 1816 

 to 1820, and his example stimulated some of the assistant- 

 surgeons of Her Majesty's forces to make collections in 

 illustration of the productions of the colony. Of these the 

 late Dr. Kinnis was one of the most energetic and success- 

 ful. He was seconded by Dr. Templeton of the Eoyal 

 AitiUery, who engaged assiduously in the investigation of 

 various orders, and commenced an interchange of speci- 

 mens with Mr. Blyth\ the distinguished naturahst and 

 curator of the Calcutta Museum. 



^ Journ. Asicit. Sac, Hent/al, vol. xv. p. 280, 314. 



